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| High-profile dissidents freed in Burma amnesty | High-profile dissidents freed in Burma amnesty |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Several high-profile dissidents have been set free in Burma in the latest in a series of prisoner amnesties. | Several high-profile dissidents have been set free in Burma in the latest in a series of prisoner amnesties. |
| Those freed included Min Ko Naing, who was one of the leaders of a failed pro-democracy uprising in 1988. | Those freed included Min Ko Naing, who was one of the leaders of a failed pro-democracy uprising in 1988. |
| Former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, who was detained in a purge in 2004, has also been freed from house arrest. | Former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, who was detained in a purge in 2004, has also been freed from house arrest. |
| State TV had announced that 651 prisoners would be freed under a new presidential pardon, but did not say how many would be political prisoners. | State TV had announced that 651 prisoners would be freed under a new presidential pardon, but did not say how many would be political prisoners. |
| Burma has faced calls from the international community to free more dissidents. | Burma has faced calls from the international community to free more dissidents. |
| The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says given the stature of those set free, this could be the most significant breakthrough yet in Burma's moves towards reform. | The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says given the stature of those set free, this could be the most significant breakthrough yet in Burma's moves towards reform. |
| 'Positive sign' | 'Positive sign' |
| Min Ko Naing was considered by many to be the most high-profile political dissident still to be behind bars. | Min Ko Naing was considered by many to be the most high-profile political dissident still to be behind bars. |
| A crowd greeted him as he emerged from prison in Thayet, 545 km (345 miles) north of Rangoon, the Associated Press reports. | |
| Another veteran member of Burma's 88 Generation Students, Nilar Thein, confirmed to the BBC that she had been freed from Tharya Wadi prison. | Another veteran member of Burma's 88 Generation Students, Nilar Thein, confirmed to the BBC that she had been freed from Tharya Wadi prison. |
| The activist served eight years in prison after the 1988 demonstrations and was jailed again in 2007 for 65 years for illegally using electronic media. | The activist served eight years in prison after the 1988 demonstrations and was jailed again in 2007 for 65 years for illegally using electronic media. |
| "I'm healthy and happy to be released and happy to see my baby. I was released today along with nine other political prisoners in Tharya Wadi prison but there are still 25 more left inside," she told the BBC. | "I'm healthy and happy to be released and happy to see my baby. I was released today along with nine other political prisoners in Tharya Wadi prison but there are still 25 more left inside," she told the BBC. |
| Her husband, Kyaw Min Yu, known as Ko Jimmy, has also been freed, as well as Htay Kywe, a student activist also jailed in 2007 for 65 years. | Her husband, Kyaw Min Yu, known as Ko Jimmy, has also been freed, as well as Htay Kywe, a student activist also jailed in 2007 for 65 years. |
| U Khun Tun Oo, the most senior political representative of the Shan, the largest of Burma's ethnic minorities, has also been freed. | U Khun Tun Oo, the most senior political representative of the Shan, the largest of Burma's ethnic minorities, has also been freed. |
| The party of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the move was a "positive sign". | The party of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said the move was a "positive sign". |
| "We welcome the release. Some [dissidents] are on their way home already," AFP news agency quoted a spokesman as saying. | "We welcome the release. Some [dissidents] are on their way home already," AFP news agency quoted a spokesman as saying. |
| Reform process | Reform process |
| Burma's new government has freed a number of political prisoners since embarking on a process of reform. | Burma's new government has freed a number of political prisoners since embarking on a process of reform. |
| This is a positive trend. Burma would like to prove to the world that it is committed to reforms. | |
| I have been talking to key decision makers in both Burma and the US about the possibilities of sanctions being lifted. If Burma continues with this pace, it is very possible that sanctions may be lifted within two years, in time for Burma taking over the ASEAN chair in 2014, if not before that. | |
| The international community will want more and I think we will see more. A key thing to look at is the future relationship between the military and the government. President Thein Sein will have to find a balance - not too fast, too soon, or too slow, too little. | |
| The military-backed civilian government came to power in November 2010, after the country's first elections in 20 years. Before that Burma was governed by a military junta. | The military-backed civilian government came to power in November 2010, after the country's first elections in 20 years. Before that Burma was governed by a military junta. |
| It has freed Aung San Suu Kyi and entered into dialogue with her and her National League for Democracy party. Ms Suu Kyi is now expected to stand for parliament in a by-election in April. | It has freed Aung San Suu Kyi and entered into dialogue with her and her National League for Democracy party. Ms Suu Kyi is now expected to stand for parliament in a by-election in April. |
| Western nations have welcomed the reform process but called on the government to release political prisoners and resolve ethnic conflicts in border regions before sanctions can be eased. | Western nations have welcomed the reform process but called on the government to release political prisoners and resolve ethnic conflicts in border regions before sanctions can be eased. |
| No official tally of the number of political prisoners is available but prior to Friday's releases opposition groups estimated that between 600 and 1,000 remained in custody. | No official tally of the number of political prisoners is available but prior to Friday's releases opposition groups estimated that between 600 and 1,000 remained in custody. |
| Hopes of a significant release were raised on Thursday when the announcement said detainees would be freed so they could help in the task of nation building. | Hopes of a significant release were raised on Thursday when the announcement said detainees would be freed so they could help in the task of nation building. |
| The releases come a day after the government signed a landmark ceasefire with a rebel group. | The releases come a day after the government signed a landmark ceasefire with a rebel group. |
| The ceasefire was agreed at talks with the Karen National Union (KNU) in Hpa-an, capital of eastern Karen state. The Karen have fought for greater autonomy for more than 60 years. | The ceasefire was agreed at talks with the Karen National Union (KNU) in Hpa-an, capital of eastern Karen state. The Karen have fought for greater autonomy for more than 60 years. |