Prisoners freed across Burma

Dozens were freed from jails across Burma on Friday morning, with expectant crowds hopeful that political prisoners will join them as day goes on.

Thirty were released from prison in Mandalay, while 29 were freed from Sittwe, Arakan State and groups of 17 and 30 freed from jails in the Pegu Division towns of Tharrawaddy and Taungoo, respectively. Over 100 have been released from Rangoon’s Insein Prison.

Large crowds remain gathered outside prisons across the country, including Insein, where a list has been published of prisoners set for release. One prisoner of conscience, protestor Thet Wai, was included among the names of those freed in the former capital on Monday.

Thet Wai greeted supporters outside the lock up, where he spent four months for protesting without permission.

“There are many political prisoners remaining inside. I can’t be satisfied yet, I feel terrible in my heart,” said Thet Wai, who staged a solo protest in Rangoon on 10 December last year calling for the release of fellow activist Nay Myo Zin. (Courtesy of DVB)