Former minister, writer among Myanmar prisoners freed in amnesty

Than Myint Aung, center, a prominent philanthropist and writer, is welcomed by her colleagues after he was released from Insein Prison, in Yangon, Myanmar, on Jan. 4, 2023. - AP

(Reuters) - Myanmar's junta has freed a former minister in the ousted government of Aung Sang Suu Kyi and a well-known writer among political detainees given amnesty to mark the country's independence day, according to relatives and media.

State broadcaster MRTV said on Wednesday that 7,012 prisoners were due to be released under the amnesty, although it did not provide further details on the inmates.