MYANMAR’s military junta released more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the country’s traditional New Year’s Eve.
Thousands of prisoners tasted long-awaited freedom granted to them by Myanmar’s military-led government.
A total of 3,113 prisoners, including 98 foreigners, were released on Monday to mark the country’s traditional New Year.
Thousands of opponents and pro-democracy activists were jailed since the military junta seized power in 2021.
The state secretary of the junta said the amnesty is a “celebration of Myanmar‘s New Year to bring joy for the people and address humanitarian concerns.”
Myanmar’s traditional New Year Festival known as Thingyan is usually celebrated in the middle of April.
In 2021, the military, also known as Tatmadaw released 23,000 prisoners to mark the holiday.
Meanwhile, ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was removed from power through a military coup on February 21, remains in detention.
In December 2022, Myanmar‘s military court sentenced her to additional 7 years in prison, taking her overall jail time to 33 years.
The assistance association for political prisoners said that more than 17,000 people remained in detention under Myanmar’s military rule.
