Current location:world >>
Myanmar junta releases thousands of prisoners in New Year amnesty — Radio Free Asia
world93People have gathered around
IntroductionUpdated at 1:08 pm ET on April 17, 2024Myanmar prisons nationwide released over 3,000 prisoners on W ...
Updated at 1:08 pm ET on April 17, 2024
Myanmar prisons nationwide released over 3,000 prisoners on Wednesday, according to junta-controlled media, but watchdog groups said that few of those freed were political prisoners.
Since the country’s 2021 coup, thousands of civilians have been arrested for donating to groups opposing the junta, protesting and speaking out against the military regime’s leaders.
According to the junta’s media statement, reduced sentences were given “for the peace of mind of the people” and “social leniency” during the Burmese New Year Commemoration.
Prisoners were released under the condition that if they commit another crime, they will serve the remainder of their previous sentence as well as the sentence for their most recent crime, in accordance with the country’s Criminal Procedure Law, military-supported channels like MRTV continued.
Prisoners’ family members have been waiting in front of Yangon region’s infamous Insein Prison since early on Wednesday morning, residents said.
The mother of a political prisoner waiting by Insein Prison on Wednesday said she hopes to see her son, who has been in prison for three years for defamation.
“The people in the prison said that prisoners like my son with a prison term of less than three years would be released, while prisoners with a long sentence would get a reduced prison term,” she said, declining to be named for security reasons.
“That’s why I am waiting for my son. He was arrested and jailed when [junta forces] found revolutionary messages on his phone while checking the [ward’s] guest list that night,” she continued, referencing a housing registration system that has intensified since the junta took power.
Few political prisoners freed
However, like previous amnesties, which have been criticized as a false show of humanity from the junta in the past, only a small number of political prisoners will likely be released, said Thaik Tun Oo, a member of Political Prisoner Network-Myanmar.
“Even if there are political prisoners among the released, there will be a few well-known figures, a few political prisoners and there will be a lot of other people with criminal charges, just like the [junta] has done throughout the post-coup period,” he said. “We have even heard that there are no political prisoners released in some prisons. I think they may have difficulty releasing political prisoners after the recent military defeats,” he said, referring to military victories since last October by the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the Karen National Liberation Army.
Data released later on Wednesday by Political Prisoner Network-Myanmar showed that, among those released as part of the day's amnesty, around 90, or less than 3%, were political prisoners.
In Ayeyarwaddy region's Pathein Prison, for example, authorities released 45 prisoners as part of the amnesty, but sources familiar with the prison told RFA that only four of them were political prisoners.
RFA reached out to Khin Maung Kyi, the junta's minister of social affairs for Ayeyarwady region, for further details on the release, but received no response.
In addition to the more than 3,303 prisoners released nationwide on Wednesday, eight foreign prisoners who were jailed locally were released and deported, according to the military’s announcement.
Prior to Wednesday’s amnesty, the junta administration also released 9,652 prisoners on Jan. 4, 2024 for Burmese Independence Day, but few political prisoners were among them, according to advocates for those jailed under the military regime.
According to the statements released by the junta, only 15 pardons were granted and a total of 95,000 prisoners have been released in more than three years since the coup.
Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Kiana Duncan, Mike Firn and Joshua Lipes.
This story has been updated to include the latest figure for political prisoners released as part of the amnesty, as well as details of the release at Pathein Prison.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Iterations news portal”。http://www.videocameralive.com/html-56c399603.html
Related articles
Two more people sentenced for carjacking and kidnapping an FBI employee in South Dakota
worldRAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The last two members of a trio who carjacked and kidnapped an FBI employee i ...
【world】
Read moreArtemi Panarin scores 49th goal as Rangers beat Senators 4
worldNEW YORK (AP) — Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves for his fourt ...
【world】
Read moreNew book chronicles ecological civilization along Lijiang River
worldThe unveiling of Jiang Ru Lian (literally meaning a river as silk) in Beijing marks a significant mi ...
【world】
Read more
Popular articles
- Twins bring Carlos Correa back from IL after 16
- The sound of a comeback
- China to step up financial support for green development
- 11 killed in suspected IS attack in Syrian desert region: war monitor
- Beijing improves services to facilitate film and television projects
- China's GDP grew 5.3% in Q1, beating expectations
Latest articles
Chinese citizen killed, another wounded in mass stabbing attack at Sydney mall
Vo Thi Anh Xuan named as Vietnamese acting president
White House approved more bombs to Israel on day of deadly Israeli attack on aid workers: WAPO
Xi, Tokayev send congratulations to launch of Kazakhstan tourism year in China
Congress honors deceased Korean War hero with lying in honor ceremony
Pache's single, Harper's catch in 10th inning lift Phillies past Rockies
LINKS
- ACWF President Stresses Women's Wisdom and Strength in Anti
- CBA Roundup: Liaoning smashes Shanxi, Guangdong edges Fujian
- Schoolgirls of Yi Ethnic Group Share Stories in Poverty Relief at ACWF Headquarters
- ACWF Vows to Mobilize Women to Play Active Role in Winning Fight Against Poverty
- Incredible Stories of 40 Heroines in Anti
- Incredible Stories of 40 Heroines in Anti
- From masterpiece to marketplace, creative museum souvenirs go viral among Chinese youth
- Beijing launches competition to preserve Central Axis
- ACWF and Supreme People's Procuratorate Join Hands to Strengthen Protection of Women and Children
- ACWF Calls on Women, Families to Stop Wasting Food, Promote Thrifty Living