Burma Amnesty Covers Hundreds Of Political Prisoners

Burma amnesty covers hundreds of political prisoners

January 14, 2012, 10:35 am

Rangoon - Burma freed about 300 political prisoners under its latest amnesty that was welcomed by the international community as a significant step forward, officials confirmed Saturday.

On Friday, the government released more than 600 inmates, of whom 302 were considered prisoners of conscience, a government official who asked to remain anonymous said.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma confirmed 217 political prisoners were freed, including prominent activists, opposition politicians and ethnic minority leaders.

The association put the number of political prisoners released under three previous amnesties by President Thein Sein since taking office in March at 347.

Friday’s amnesty was hailed by Western democracies as a major step forward for the once-pariah state, which won immediate political dividends for the government that won the November 2010 election.

The US government said it would send an ambassador to the Asian nation for the first time in more than 20 years. The European Union hailed "a further step toward a new relationship with Burma-Myanmar."//DPA

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