Officials and local media reported that military leaders are releasing thousands of prisoners, including an ex-British envoy, a Japanese journalist, and an Australian economics adviser.
According to a senior official and local media, the Myanmar junta would free 6,000 prisoners, including a former British ambassador, a Japanese journalist, an Australian adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi`s ousted government, and other celebrities.
Vicky Bowman, a former British diplomat, Sean Turnell, an economist from Australia, and Toru Kubota, a journalist from Japan, "will be released to mark National Day," a senior official said on Thursday, according to the AFP news agency.
Since the military`s takeover last year and a deadly crackdown on opposition that resulted in thousands of people being imprisoned, the nation of Southeast Asia has been in turmoil.
"Altogether, 5,774 prisoners including some 600 women prisoners will be released," the official said, revising an earlier figure of about 700.
"On National day, the military council announced that almost 6,000 prisoners were released. Among those were four foreigners and 11 celebrities," the news report said.
