<p>The army-dominated nation, also known as Burma, has released one of its most famous dissident inmates -- comedian Zarganar -- as part of the move, which observers hope will see more prominent activists set free.<br /><br />"So far we have received information about over 70 political prisoners included in the release. I think we will see some more," said Aung Khaing Min of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).<br /><br />The freedom of an estimated 2,000 political prisoners, including pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, monks and lawyers, has long been a key demand of Western powers that have slapped sanctions on Myanmar.<br /><br />Aung Khaing Min said that AAPP had received information that a famous dissident monk known as U Gambira may be one of those released under the current amnesty.<br /><br />U Gambira was a founding member of the All Burma Monks' Alliance, which was crucial in getting thousands of monks into the streets in a 2007 protest dubbed the "Saffron Revolution" that ended in a bloody army crackdown, according to AAPP.<br /><br />"We have heard that he is in the release list but we cannot confirm if he is out or not. We are still confirming," Aung Khaing Min said.<br /><br />A mass pardon of dissidents would be arguably the clearest sign yet of change under a new government that has reached out to critics including Suu Kyi, who was freed in November after seven straight years of detention.</p>
<p>The army-dominated nation, also known as Burma, has released one of its most famous dissident inmates -- comedian Zarganar -- as part of the move, which observers hope will see more prominent activists set free.<br /><br />"So far we have received information about over 70 political prisoners included in the release. I think we will see some more," said Aung Khaing Min of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).<br /><br />The freedom of an estimated 2,000 political prisoners, including pro-democracy campaigners, journalists, monks and lawyers, has long been a key demand of Western powers that have slapped sanctions on Myanmar.<br /><br />Aung Khaing Min said that AAPP had received information that a famous dissident monk known as U Gambira may be one of those released under the current amnesty.<br /><br />U Gambira was a founding member of the All Burma Monks' Alliance, which was crucial in getting thousands of monks into the streets in a 2007 protest dubbed the "Saffron Revolution" that ended in a bloody army crackdown, according to AAPP.<br /><br />"We have heard that he is in the release list but we cannot confirm if he is out or not. We are still confirming," Aung Khaing Min said.<br /><br />A mass pardon of dissidents would be arguably the clearest sign yet of change under a new government that has reached out to critics including Suu Kyi, who was freed in November after seven straight years of detention.</p>