[JURIST] Government officials in Myanmar [government website; JURIST news archive] have granted amnesty to nearly three thousand prisoners, releasing them early in celebration of the country's Independence Day Thursday. Some 20 political prisoners were among the 2,831 released because their "moral behaviour and spiritual values have improved," according to a report in Myanmar's state-run newspaper the New Light of Myanmar [media website]. According to Myanmar's military government, a total of 23,147 prisoners have been granted amnesty since 2004.

Although accounts vary on the exact number of political prisoners released [Reuters report], it is clear that several prominent political prisoners, including National League for Democracy [Wikipedia backgrounder] leader Aung San Suu Kyi [advocacy website; BBC profile] and her deputy Tin Oo were not released. AP has more.