11/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - EU welcomes release of demonstrators. On Saturday 9 April, the spokesperson for the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, welcomed the release of 69 student protesters on Friday 8 April. These demonstrators had been detained for more than a year in Myanmar for having participated in peaceful demonstrations. According to the EU High Representative's Spokesperson, this release "sends a strong signal of commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms by the new Myanmar government". The spokesperson explained that the European Union has been following these cases closely. Ahead of this release, Foreign Minister and Special State Advisor, Aung San Suu Kyi, promised to make the release of political prisoners a priority. The EU Spokesperson said that, "We look forward to the release of all remaining political prisoners and their full rehabilitation". According to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), quoted by the AFP before this release, 121 political prisoners had been incarcerated in Myanmar and 408 activists were awaiting trial for political activities. (CG)