25,000 prisoners pardoned in Thailand

More than 10,000 prisoners were granted a royal pardon and released in Thailand today in a traditional Buddhist gift of amnesty.

The prisoners were the first of 25,000 inmates to be released over 60 days as part of a merit-making ritual to celebrate Queen Sirikit’s 72nd birthday, said Nathee Chitsawang, deputy director general of the Corrections Department.