Yangon: The Military Government of Myanmar said Thursday, April 17, that it would release nearly 5,000 prisoners in an amnesty to mark the country's New Year festivities.
Civil rights defense groups say that the junta has arrested thousands of demonstrators and activists Since his coup in 2021 The short experience of Myanmar with democracy and plunged the nation into a multiple civil war.
Amnesties are regularly announced to commemorate national festivals or Buddhist festivals, but most high -level political prisoners, including Civil chief Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained.
A junta statement said that 4,893 prisoners would be forgiven “to participate in the state construction process, for people's peace of mind and for reasons of compassion”.
To transmit the “loving kindness of the state”, the junta also declared that other prisoners would have their reduced sentence by a sixth, with the exception of those who had committed serious offenses.
The offenses include illegal association and terrorism, as well as murder and rape.
The junta said that 13 foreign nationals would also be forgiven and expelled, without giving details on their identities or crimes.
Early Thursday morning, an AFP journalist saw crowds of families gathered outside the Yangon Insein prison, prepared to meet those released.
