Bush Meets Burmese Dissident, United States Welcomes Burma's Release of Political Prisoners
Tuesday, September 23 2008
 George W. Bush (file photo)State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Washington hopes the long overdue release is a first step toward freedom for all jailed dissidents.
Win Tin was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to 20 years for allegedly writing anti-government propaganda. He was a close aide of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Shortly after his release from Insein Prison in Rangoon Tuesday, the ailing 78-year- old told reporters he would continue his fight until the emergence of democracy in Burma.
Burma announced the release of 9,002 prisoners for good behavior. Official media said the prisoners were being released so they can take part in the elections promised for 2010 by Burma's ruling generals.
It was not clear how many of Burma's estimated two thousand political prisoners are included in the amnesty.
At least six other prominent democracy activists were among those released.
They are May Win Myint, Aung Soe Myint, Than Nyein, Win Htain, Khin Maung Swe, and Than Naing.
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