200 more political prisoners to be released in Myanmar by year end

Myanmar government is continuing to scrutinize the remaining political prisoners still behind bars and 200 more such prisoners are expected to be released by the end of this year, state media reported Sunday. The government's Committee for Scrutinizing Remaining Political Prisoners disclosed the planned move at the Myanmar Peace Center in Yangon. Myanmar last freed 69 remaining prisoners of conscience on Nov. 15 from prisons across the country under an amnesty order of President U Thein Sein as part of the measures in realizing the government's promise to release all political prisoners by the year-end. The number of the freed prisoners has added up to 29,820 since the new civilian government took office on March 30, 2011. In line with its reform process, the government reformed in May this year the Committee for Scrutinizing Remaining Prisoners of Conscience with 19 members with U Soe Thane, minister at the President's Office, as chairman.