Burma Grants Amnesty to 6,300

Democracy advocates hope the group includes political prisoners
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 11, 2011 9:57 AM CDT
Burma Grants Amnesty to 6,300
A Myanmar activist holds up posters of imprisoned journalists of the Democratic Voice of Burma during a rally in front of Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011.   (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The ice might be breaking in Burma: The nation's rulers today announced that they will grant amnesty to 6,359 prisoners beginning tomorrow, sparking hopes among democracy advocates that the 2,000-some political prisoners being held will be among them. The government didn't explicitly say political prisoners would be included, reports the AFP, but their release has long been a sticking point in lifting international sanctions on Burma. A senior US diplomat hailed the "dramatic developments," adding, "We will match their steps."

"We welcome the amnesty announcement. This is very good news and we hope that political prisoners will be among those freed," says a spokesman for Aung San Suu Kyi. The move isn't unprecedented: Burma's president granted another amnesty shortly after he took office, but the release included only a few dozen political prisoners, notes the AP. (More Myanmar stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X