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| Myanmar to release 3,000 prisoners for sake of 'stability' | Myanmar to release 3,000 prisoners for sake of 'stability' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Myanmar government has announced it is releasing more than 3,000 prisoners. | The Myanmar government has announced it is releasing more than 3,000 prisoners. |
| An update on the Information Minister's U Ye Htut's Facebook page said President Thein Sein had pardoned them for the sake of peace and stability. | An update on the Information Minister's U Ye Htut's Facebook page said President Thein Sein had pardoned them for the sake of peace and stability. |
| BBC Myanmar correspondent Jonah Fisher says early indications are that some of those to be released are former military intelligence officers. | BBC Myanmar correspondent Jonah Fisher says early indications are that some of those to be released are former military intelligence officers. |
| Most political prisoners in Myanmar (also known as Burma) have been released as part of the reform process. | Most political prisoners in Myanmar (also known as Burma) have been released as part of the reform process. |
| Human rights groups estimate a few hundred are still being held. | Human rights groups estimate a few hundred are still being held. |
| President Thein Sein, who won power in 2010 in elections which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government, has pledged to release all political prisoners. | President Thein Sein, who won power in 2010 in elections which saw military rule replaced with a military-backed civilian government, has pledged to release all political prisoners. |
| Most of those to be released in this latest batch are thought to be people convicted of committing minor crimes. | Most of those to be released in this latest batch are thought to be people convicted of committing minor crimes. |
| In recent years media restrictions in Myanmar have also been relaxed and the opposition has rejoined the political process. In response, most international sanctions against Burma were loosened. | |
| However, human rights groups have consistently called for every last political prisoner to be released and said that it is unclear exactly how many are still in custody. |