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Burma has released almost 20 political prisoners as part of a presidential amnesty scheme, activists have said. According to The BBC, the decision had been made to promote stability and national reconciliation. Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi had called for all dissidents to be freed. Among those released is Ko Aye Aung, who is considered by Amnesty International to be a "prisoner of conscience". He was arrested in 1998 on charges of violating Burma 's emergency act and illegally printing and distributing leaflets. He was initially sentenced to 59 years, but that was reduced to 29 years. Analysts have said that the real test for Burma will be how much freedom released prisoners will have to continue their activities.

Burma releases 20 political prisoners under general amnesty scheme