A group of 151 Thai nationals are among 5,864 prisoners released from prisons in Myanmar today, on the 77th anniversary of the country’s independence.
The Thais, who include 74 men and 77 women, both political and other prisoners, were sent across the Thai-Myanmar border at the Second Friendship Bridge in Chiang Rai province.
They were received by Pol Gen Tatchai Pitanilabutr, the inspector-general of the Royal Thai Police.
It is not currently known whether Aung San Suu Kyi is among the Burmese prisoners released.
154 Thais were rounded up early last year when Myanmar authorities cracked down on call centres and online gambling networks in Tachileik township, opposite Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai province.
Two were sent back to Thailand because they are minors butthe rest were each sentenced to one year in prison.
Four crew of a Thai fishing boat, who were arrested by Myanmar’s navy on November 30th and were sentenced to between four and six years in prison for illegally entering and fishing in Myanmar waters off Ranong province, were not released.
