Naypyidaw, Myanmar – The ruling military council of Myanmar announced Sunday the release of over 6,000 prisoners as part of an annual amnesty commemorating the country’s Independence Day.
The State Administration Council (SAC) stated that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military junta, had granted amnesty to 6,134 imprisoned citizens. A separate statement indicated that 52 foreign prisoners would also be released and subsequently deported.
According to the SAC, the annual prisoner release is carried out for “humanitarian and compassionate reasons,” coinciding with the 78th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from British colonial rule. State broadcaster MRTV described the amnesty as a humanitarian gesture towards the people.
The military council also announced a reduction of sentences by one-sixth for convicts across the country, with exceptions for those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, terrorism, corruption, and offenses related to weapons or drugs.
Hundreds of people gathered outside Insein Prison in Yangon on Sunday, awaiting the release of their relatives, holding signs bearing the names of prisoners.
Myanmar has been gripped by turmoil since the 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The military’s violent suppression of pro-democracy protests sparked an armed rebellion across the country. The amnesty comes amidst ongoing international pressure for the restoration of democracy and the release of political prisoners.