Myanmar announced on Tuesday a mass prisoner amnesty, raising hope for the imminent release of hundreds of political detainees in what would be a major sign of change in the authoritarian state.
The fate of the estimated 2,000 political prisoners, who include pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, monks and lawyers, has long been a top demand of Western nations that have imposed sanctions on Myanmar.
More than 6,300 elderly, sick, disabled or well-behaved prisoners will be pardoned from Wednesday “on humanitarian grounds”, state television announced, without saying whether political prisoners would be among them.
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It said freeing detenus would allow them “to become nationals who can help to build a new nation”.
“I cried when I heard the announcement. I'm now praying for the release not only of my brother but everyone,” Ma Nyein, sister-in-law of comedian Zarganar, one of Myanmar's best known political detenus, told AFP .
The news came hours after a government-appointed rights panel called for a pardon for what it described as the “prisoners of conscience”, in a rare official acknowledgement of their existence.
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On Monday a government official, told AFP that political prisoners were expected to be freed within days.