A total of 138 political prisoners including students facing trial connected with politics were released by the Government of Myanmar late on Friday night.
Official sources were quoted by the Xinhua news agency, as saying that their cases were withdrawn. Of the 138 freed political prisoners, 25 are women. They were released from prisons in Bago, Magway, Yangon, Mandalay regions.
In addition, 2,178 other prisoners, who were set to enjoy cut of prison terms on new year occasion, were also released.
The release of the prisoners is in response to a demand made by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi to free political prisoners before the Myanmar new year which falls next week.
More releases are expected to be made in the following days despite holidays ahead of Myanmar water festival which is to start next Tuesday.
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