President Win Myint said 24,896 people jailed across the country, including 87 foreigners, would be freed unconditionally “to bring delights to the citizens of Myanmar and taking into consideration humanitarian concerns”. The president gave no details of the crimes the prisoners were convicted of. When Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi took power in 2016, after more than half a century of military rule, one of her first acts was to release hundreds of political prisoners. The prison department has said previously there are no political prisoners in Myanmar, but rights groups say dozens of people are in prison because of their political activity. “The government doesn't actually acknowledge political prisoners but we were asked for some lists and we gave a list of over 70," Aung Myo Kyaw of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said.

Source: bd News24 April 17, 2020 03:56 UTC