Thousands to be released

YANGON (AP):

Myanmar's newly elected civilian government announced yesterday that it will release more than 6,300 prisoners in an amnesty that could help patch up the country's human-rights record and normalise relations with Western nations.

It was widely expected that many of the country's estimated 2,000 political prisoners would be among those freed, but the amnesty announcements broadcast on state radio and television did not supply any names.

Freedom for political detainees has been hotly anticipated as part of liberalising measures since Myanmar's long-ruling military government handed power in March to a military-backed civilian administration.

"We welcome the amnesty announcement. This is very good news and we hope that many political prisoners will be among those freed," said Nyan Win, a spokesman for democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

President Thein Sein, a former army officer who took office in March, has begun a dialogue with the democracy movement and promised other reforms that could start to reverse the harsh policies of decades of military rule.

The announcement said 6,359 inmates would be released beginning today under a humanitarian amnesty signed by Thein Sein for inmates who are old, disabled, unwell or who had shown good "moral behaviour".

Relatives of political detainees were excited by the announcement, but wary, given that they could not be sure who would be among those released. Thein Sein instituted an earlier amnesty soon after taking office, but it included just a few dozen political detainees.

"We are waiting for the good news but we have not yet been contacted by authorities here," said Ma Nyein, sister-in-law of prominent comedian and activist Zarganar, who is serving a 35-year sentence in Myitkyina prison in northernmost Kachin State.