More than 20 political prisoners released to coincide with departure of President Thein Sein for US visit.
Al Jazeera - 17 May 2013
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| President Thein Sein is the first leader of the formerly military-led nation to visit Washington in half a century [AP] |
Myanmar has released more than 20 political prisoners,
a government official has said, just hours before President Thein Sein leaves
for a landmark state visit to the US.
Zaw Htay, director of the president's office, said on
the microblogging website Twitter on Friday that the amnesty showed Thein
Sein's determination to have an "inclusive political process",
denying that the dissidents were being used as political tools.
Thein Sein, a former general, has freed hundreds of
political detainees since coming to power in early 2011 as part of sweeping
changes that have led to the end of most Western sanctions.
But activists say about 200 political prisoners remain
in jail and accuse Myanmar of using a series of headline-grabbing amnesties for
political gain.
Last month, dozens of political prisoners were
pardoned a day after the European Union agreed to end almost all sanctions
against the former pariah state.
Nay Myo Zin, opposition member, whose previous amnesty
was revoked earlier this month to the dismay of campaigners, was among those
freed on Friday.
"I was invited to cooperate with the authorities
in this reform process," he told the AFP news agency by telephone after
his release from prison in the Irrawaddy region.
"We have a good foundation for the reform
process. We have moved on from the old era," he said.
Thein Sein, who will be welcomed at the White House on
Monday, will be the first leader of the former military-ruled nation to visit
Washington since 1966.
He was due to leave Myanmar late on Friday and return
next Thursday, a Myanmar government official who did not want to be named said.
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