Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Myanmar's President Grants Amnesty to 8,500 Prisoners

by VOA News

   Myanmar President Win Myint announced Tuesday an order to grant amnesty
   to about 8,500 prisoners.

   The move coincides with Myanmar's traditional New Year.

   A spokesman said the amnesty includes 51 foreigners as well as 36
   people listed as political prisoners by the Thailand-based watchdog
   group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

   The president's order does not cover two Reuters journalists who are
   facing trial for possessing secret official documents. The reporters
   were covering the brutal military campaign in Rakhine state that has
   driven hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims across the border into
   Bangladesh since last August.