Government of Burma releases political prisoners, signs ceasefire with Karen National Union; Aung San Suu Kyi to run for office

Almost immediately following the news that the government of Burma had signed a ceasefire with the Karen National Union — for many years, the two groups have been locked in bloody civil war over the issue of greater autonomy for the latter – the Democratic Voice of Burma reports that a number of political prisoners have been released from prison, including former prime minister Khin Nyunt and "Saffron
Revolution"-organizing monk U Gambira. Along with Nobel Peace laureate and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's recent announcement that
she will run for office in the next parliamentary election, these seem like hopeful signs that meaningful transformation is taking place in a country that has long suffered gross human rights violations.

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