Myanmar government frees 2,831 prisoners

Myanmar's military government on Wednesday freed nearly 3,000 prisoners, including about 20 political prisoners, according to media reports and a human rights group.

The state-controlled New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that 2,831 prisoners "whose moral behavior and spiritual values have improved and changed for the better" were freed ahead of the 59th anniversary of Myanmar's independence from Britain. Myanmar, also known as Burma, gained independence from Britain on Jan. 4, 1948, after more than 120 years of colonial rule.

Win Mya Mya of the Myanmar's National League for Democracy party said about 20 political prisoners were freed.

Prison department officials in Yangon said prominent political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party deputy Tin Oo, were not released. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from their superiors.

The National League for Democracy said several aged and ailing political prisoners are still being held, including 76-year old Win Tin, a well-known journalist, and Dr. Than Nyein, an elected lawmaker from the party who is ill.

"We welcome the release of prisoners but we are very disappointed that elderly, sick and long-term prisoners are not among those released today," said the party's spokesman, Nyan Win.

The United Nations and human rights groups estimate the junta is holding more than 1,100 political prisoners.

The newspaper said the government on Dec. 30 handed over 31 Chinese nationals serving prison terms in the country to neighboring China "in view of Sino-Myanmar goodwill relations." In similar goodwill gestures, 709 Chinese prisoners were returned to their homeland last year, the newspaper said.

The government often grants amnesties to mark important national days, but most released are petty thieves and criminals.

With the release of the prisoners Wednesday, the government said, it has granted amnesty to a total of 23,147 people since November 2004.

The junta seized power after a bloody 1988 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators led by Suu Kyi. In 1990, junta refused to step down when Suu Kyi's party won a landslide election.

Since then, Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, has been in and out of detention, mostly under house arrest.