Myanmar
state radio and television announced Tuesday that the country's president as
granted amnesty to more than 6,300 prisoners in what appears to be the biggest
step so far in a series of reform actions undertaken by the new elected
government.
The
broadcasts said the releases would begin Wednesday - a religious holiday - but
did not specify how many political detainees were among the 6,59 receiving an
amnesty from President Thein Sein.
The release
of at least some of the country's estimated 2,000 political prisoners has been
hotly anticipated as a crucial step in liberalizing measures implemented by the
military-backed but elected government that took power in March.
Most
prominent political prisoners are held in facilities far from the country's
main city of Yangon, a policy implemented under the previous military regime
apparently to limit their ability to communicate through visiting family
members and lawyers.
The
broadcast said a list of the prisoners had been prepared, but did not read t
out.
Myanmar's
tightly controlled state newspapers had published an appeal Tuesday morning for
a release of political prisoners, a sign that the move had official blessing.
The appeal
in the three state newspapers, which closely reflect government positions, was
an open letter from the government-appointed National Human Rights Commission
calling on Thein Sein to grant an amnesty as a gesture of magnanimity.
Myanmar's
long-ruling military government handed power in March to an elected
administration, which is seen as remaining closely aligned with the military
but which has declared its intention to liberalize the country's hardline
policies.
The United
States believes Myanmar's elections were flawed but has been encouraged by its
liberalizing trend since the civilian administration took power, the
highest-ranking American diplomat for Asia said Monday.
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Burma
prisoner release includes prominent comedian
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