New Delhi (Mizzima) – The first of an unknown number of political prisoners who are members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were released on Tuesday under a general commutation ordered by Burmese President Thein Sein, according to Ohn Kyaing, an NLD spokesman.
Burma’s new government issued an order that all prisoners’ sentences should be reduced by one year and all death sentences should be commuted to life sentences.
The newly released prisoners from the NLD are Kyaw San (a former MP), Bo Bo Tun, Aung Gyi, Htwe Thein, Nyi Nyi Aung, Mya Than Htike, Kyi Phyu, Kyin Hlaing, Zin Lin Aung, Ye Min Oo, Myo Thant, Ko Ko Lat, Aye Myint, Naw Ohn Hla, Mi Mi Lay and Mar Mar Aye.
They were released from Insein, Taungoo, Paung De, Hpaan and Myitkyina prisons, according to Ohn Kyaing.
The list was compiled by NLD headquarters in Rangoon before 4 p.m. based on information reported by NLD members across the country.
There are an estimated 200 prisoners who are NLD members in prisons across the country.
In accordance with the commutation, more than 14,600 prisoners are expected to be released from 42 prisons across the country, Zaw Win, the director general of the Insein Prison Department told the media on Tuesday. About 2,500 prisoners will be released from Insein Prison, he said.
The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma said on May 3 that there were 2,061 political prisoners in Burma.
