66 more prisoners get amnesty

Published on Monday, 19 November 2012 22:05

Sixty-six including 10 political prisoners were released from Myanmar jails on Friday ahead of US President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Myanmar, the state-owned television said yesterday.

The release of the 66 came a day after President Thein Sein granted amnesty to 452 prisoners.

The political prisoners freed from Thayawady Prison include Ko Letyar Tun, Ko Thein (a) Ko Thein Tun, Ko Myint Han, Ko Naing Aung and Ko Thant Zin (a) Thant Zaw Swe, Ko Tun Kyi of the Former Political Prisoners’ Association said yesterday.

Welcoming their release, he said, “We demand the release of all political prisoners who are still languishing in different jails.”

Ko Zaw Zaw Aung from Yamethin Prison, Ko Myint Aye from Loikaw Prison and Ko Yan Shwe of Kalay Prison are likely to be released, he added.

During a press conference in Yangon on Saturday, the association criticised the authorities for excluding the political prisoners when the president granted amnesty to 452 prisoners on November 15.