Prominent Political Prisoner Freed in Myanmar

Win Tin (C), the longest-serving political prisoner in the military-ruled nation, being received by...

Win Tin (C), the longest-serving political prisoner in the military-ruled nation, being received by friends after his release from Insein Prison in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on September 23, 2008. Win Tin, 79, told people gathered at his friend's house near the notorious Insein prison that he will continue with politics and he is politician. Win Tin has been detained by the junta since 1989.

(HLA HLA HTAY/AFP/Getty Images)

Myanmar's longest-serving political prisoner was among more than 9,000 inmates freed Tuesday, days before the first anniversary of the junta's deadly crackdown on anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks.

Win Tin, a journalist-turned-activist and aide to pro-democracy opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was held for 19 years. He was one of at least seven political prisoners released, Amnesty International said.

The rights group said there are an estimated 2,100 political prisoners in Myanmar, which has been under military rule for 46 years and is one of the world's poorest and most authoritarian nations.

A longtime journalist and poet, while in prison Win Tin would write poems on the walls of his cell with ink made of brick powder and water, according to supporters who visited him. He said he would keep wearing his prison blues as a sign of protest against the military rulers, and he vowed to keep pressing for more freedom.

Related

Myanmar's Junta Grants Suu Kyi New Rights

Myanmar 1990 Election Winners Want Junta's UN Seat

Myanmar Says No Sign of Suu Kyi Hunger Strike

"I have to continue with my unfinished task of trying to achieve democracy in Myanmar," he said from a friend's home in Yangon after being released from Insein Prison.

While incarcerated, Win Tin had two heart attacks, a hernia operation and suffered from high blood pressure, diabetes and spinal inflammation, according to international media groups. Now 78, he appeared alert and healthy despite recent reports of being ill.

Asked how it felt to be free, Win Tin replied, "I will be happy only when all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi are released."

Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi has spent more than 12 of the past 19 years in detention, mostly under house arrest. In 1990, her party won a landslide victory that the junta refused to acknowledge. Instead, the regime stepped up arrests and repression of dissidents.

Suu Kyi has called Win Tin "a man of courage and integrity" and said he was instrumental in Myanmar's democracy movement. Human rights groups rejoiced at his release.