The families of political prisoners are anticipating their release after Rail Minister Aung Min told ethnic armed groups and Lower House Speaker Thura Shwe Mahn told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of a possible release.

The families of the political prisoners “are expecting the release of their loved ones,” said Aung Zaw Tun of the Families of Political Prisoners Network.

At informal peace talks with New Mon State Party (NMSP) on Thursday, team leader and Rail Minister Aung Min told them to expect a release on Independence Day (January 4) and Union Day (February 12), NMSP General-Secretary Nai Han Thar told reporters.

Also, at peace talk with the Karen National Union (KNU) on Wednesday, Aung Min said prisoners including political prisoners would be released  early next year.

“They [the government] also want to release these prisoners so they will be released on January 4 and political prisoners will be among them. Also more prisoners will be released on February 12 and more political prisoners will be released among them too,” said KNU central executive committee member Pado David Taw, who attended the meeting.

On Wednesday, Aung San Suu Kyi also told a meeting of 88-generation student leadeers that political prisoners would be released, said 88-generation student leader Tun Myint Aung, who attended the meeting.

At a press conference held after the visit of the U.S. secretary of state in November, Shwe Mahn said, “We promised her to fulfill her request of allowing the participation of all nationals in state building and for the unity of all ethnic nationalities in state affairs,” which referred to political prisoners.

Aung Tun, the younger brother of 88-generation student leader Ko Ko Gyi, who is serving a 65-year prison term in Mong Hsat Prison, said he hopes for the release of his elder brother, but he’s cautious.

“We have heard similar news many times before. We have waited for many years. This is not new to us. We will be happy if they are released. We hope for this, but according to the teaching of Lord Buddha, his divine retribution has not yet finished for the sin in his past life.”

President Thein Sein has granted amnesty to 6,356 prisoners this year, but only 220 political prisoners were among them, the exile-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) (AAPP-B) said in a press release.

88-generation leader Phyo Min Thein said all political prisoners should be released now, and if no release occurs, the families of political prisoners will suffer even more.

“The families of these prisoners must be cautious about believing the rumours. If the rumours do not come true, the families will suffer even greater despair,” he told Mizzima.

There are currently about 600 political prisoners in prisons across Burma, according to Nai Nai, a member of the National League for Democracy Social Aid group that works with political prisoners. According to a AAPP-B list compiled on December 14, there are 1,546 political prisoners.