Hundreds of political prisoners have been freed from Myanmar’s Insein prison, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s party spokesman and a famous comedian.The prisoners walked free after state television announced an amnesty in conjunction with the Thadingyut festival for more than 5,600 people.The announcement came shortly after a televised address by Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who seized power in a coup in February plunging the country into political turmoil and prompted many people to rush to the jail in Yangon in the hope that their loved ones would be among those released.
Factory worker Kyi Kyi was one of the dozens of people waiting outside the prison, hoping to see her husband, who was arrested in February.Under the plan, the military was supposed to end violence against those opposed to its coup and allow a special ASEAN envoy to visit the country and meet all parties.