Myanmar President Htin Kyaw pardoned at least 63 political prisoners on the country's traditional New Year Sunday, according to a watchdog group, in his first major political act since he was sworn in last month, AFP reports.
His fledgling administration, which is steered by veteran democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, has vowed to prioritise freeing the scores of political prisoners jailed by the country's former military rulers.
"According to our documents, 63 political prisoners are released from various prisons by the amnesty of the president," said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).