popular comedian and dissident, Zarganar, was among the first to be freed. Some monks and a journalist were also released.
Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed the amnesty.
The country's continued detention of about 2,000 political prisoners is a crucial reason why Western nations maintain sanctions on Burma.
The detainees include journalists, pro-democracy activists, government critics, monks involved in anti-government protests and members of Burma's ethnic groups fighting for greater autonomy.
Zarganar was arrested in 2008 after publicly criticising the government's response to Cyclone Nargis, which killed more than 140,000 people.
He organised aid runs and collections amid international anger at the junta's lack of action. He was convicted of illegally giving information to the press and causing public alarm.
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