Myanmar junta grants amnesty to 9,002 prisoners for 'good moral behavior'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Myanmar's junta has freed 9,002 prisoners for good behavior so they can help build a new nation ahead of elections planned for 2010, state media reported Tuesday. It was not clear if any of the country's 1,200 political prisoners were among those released. The state-controlled Myanma Ahlin newspaper said that freedom was granted to prisoners around the country who exhibited good "moral behavior." "The government is trying to transform these convicted prisoners into citizens who can contribute to the building of a new nation," the newspaper said, adding they were released "so they could participate in the fair elections to be held in 2010."