Myanmar frees 3,000 prisoners, including ex-military intelligence figures

YANGON - Agence France-Presse

Myanmar prisoners ride a truck as they were released from Insein prison Oct. 7, in Yangon. AP Photo

Myanmar began releasing more than 3,000 prisoners, including former military intelligency figures, on "humanitarian" grounds, officials said Oct. 7, in the latest large-scale amnesty in the once pariah nation.

The reformist regime, which is in the process of preparing to host a landmark November meeting of international and regional leaders, has granted a series of amnesties as part of dramatic reforms since the end of outright military rule in 2011.

President Thein Sein pardoned some 3,073 people, including 58 foreign nationals, citing "stability of the state, the rule of law" and "humanitarian" grounds, according to a Facebook post Tuesday by Information Minister Ye Htut. It was not immediately clear if there were any political prisoners among those freed.

At least one former senior military intelligence officer General Thein Swe - arrested in a 2004 purge on his department during junta rule - was among those freed, according to his family.

His son, well known media businessman Sonny Swe, announced the release on social media, saying: "Having a top day with great news. I'm heading to Myingyan to pick up my dad."