Myanmar's political prisoners awaiting freedom

Burmese President Thein Sein's pledge during his visit to London at Chatham House on Monday on freeing more than one thousand political prisoners by the end of 2013 has raised hopes. Myanmar has gone through political and economic reforms after US and EU sanctions on the Burmese government and has freed some 230 political prisoners in the past two years. Tung Aung, Chariman of Islamic Religious Affairs Council in Myanmar has been arrested since June 2012 on charges of inciting a social rebellion. There are nearly 1,600 political prisoners in Myanmar, according to the figures of the Amnesty International. Muslims, Kachins, tribal people occupying parts of northeastern Myanmar, and people who are against military coup form the majority of prisoners.