Myanmar: Political Prisoners Freed

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/world/asia/political-prisoners-freed-in-myanmar.html

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President Thein Sein pardoned at least 20 political prisoners on Friday, just ahead of a state visit to the United States. A member of the government’s political prisoner scrutiny committee, Ye Aung, said 20 prisoners had been freed by early Friday, with more releases expected.

“According to our list there are still 160 political prisoners remaining in prison,” said Mr. Ye Aung, a former political prisoner. Burma Campaign UK, a group campaigning for democracy in Myanmar — which is also known by its old name, Burma — accused the government of using political prisoners for public relations purposes and called Myanmar’s reforms incomplete. Mr. Thein Sein will visit the White House on Monday, the first state visit by a leader of Myanmar in almost 47 years.