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| The government says as many as 650 prisoners were released |
The Myanmar
government says it has released over 600 prisoners in a much-awaited amnesty
offering. Among those freed were prominent dissidents and protest leaders, many
of whom had been dealt life sentences.
The
leadership in reclusive Myanmar has continued its drive to usher in democratic
reforms by releasing some of the country's most prominent dissidents from
prison.
Among those
covered by the prisoner amnesties were several leaders of the 88 Generation
Students Group, which was behind the 1988 and 2007 anti-government protests,
according to Win Htein, executive for the opposition National League for
Democracy (NLD) party.
Other
prominent prisoners released included former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, who was
removed from office in 2004 by the then-ruling military junta.
A
collection of ethnic minority leaders were also set free, such as Shan rebel
leader Khun Tun Oo and Buddhist monk Shin Gambira, who led protests in 2007.
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| Khin Nyunt was removed from power with little explanation |
According
to state TV, around 651 prisoners were released as part of the amnesty.
The release
of political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and ethnic minority leaders has
long been a precondition set by the international community for loosening
sanctions on Myanmar, which have been in place since an army crackdown on
protests in 1988 which ended in the killing of an estimated 3,000 people.
Reform
drive
The
nominally civilian government under President Thein Sein has taken significant
steps since coming to power in 2010 elections to set the nation on a reform
path.
On
Thursday, the government signed a ceasefire deal with major ethnic Karen group
which had put up one of the world's longest-running civil conflicts for greater
autonomy. Peace with Myanmar's minorities is also a precondition for the easing
of Western sanctions.
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| The ethnic Karen has fought a decades-long war for autonomy |
Thein has
also taken steps to open dialogue with democracy icon and opposition leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, who had spent the majority of the last 21 years under house
arrest before her release in November 2010.
The next
challenge for the country will be by-elections scheduled for April. The NLD was
allowed to officially register for the elections after being declared illegal
and ordered to disband by the junta ahead of the 2010 polls. Suu Kyi has
indicated she will make a tilt at parliament in the elections.
Author: Darren Mara (dpa, Reuters)
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