Myanmar has begun releasing a number of political prisoners, as promised by ruling party leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday.
Burmese language media said Friday Myanmar has released 69 student activists who were detained last year and awaiting trial.
Families have been gathering at Myanmar's prisons since Aung San Suu Kyi's announcement. They are awaiting word of their loved ones, or perhaps even a reunion as the prisoners are freed.
Detainees released
Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to push for the release of political prisoners and student activists in the Southeast Asian country. She said amnesties would be granted as part of the celebration of the Buddhist new year, which occurs mid-April.
The nonprofit Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) says Myanmar has some 500 political prisoners, either convicted or awaiting trial.
In her first statement since assuming the role of state counselor, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the ruling National League for Democracy, said “I am going to try … for the immediate release of political prisoners, political activists and students facing trial related to politics.”
Civilian-led government
Lawmakers voted to establish the position of state counselor this week, a move that makes Aung San Suu Kyi the country's de facto top leader despite a prohibition on her serving as president of Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Included in the new government in Myanmar sworn in last week are many democratic activists who spent years in jail under the former military-ruled government. Aung San Suu Kyi herself spent most of 15 years under house arrest.
Her National League of Democracy party came to power following a landslide November election that ushered in the country's first civilian-led government in more than five decades. But the military still remains a political force, holding 25 percent of all parliamentary seats.
The democracy leader, who stated during the election campaign that she would hold a position “above the president” is also foreign minister and minister of the President's Office. Because her children are foreign nationals, Aung San Suu Kyi is constitutionally barred from being president. Her childhood friend Htin Kyaw holds that position.
Zinlat Aung contributed to this report.
