(Yangon, Jan 4) — Myanmar’s military government announced on Sunday (January 4) that it will release more than 6,000 prisoners as part of an annual amnesty to celebrate Independence Day.
According to AFP, Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council said in a statement that military leader Min Aung Hlaing had pardoned 6,134 imprisoned Myanmar citizens.
In another statement, the council said that it would also release and deport 52 foreign prisoners.
The council stated that this annual prisoner amnesty coincided with Myanmar celebrating the 78th anniversary of freeing itself from British colonial rule, describing the move as "out of humanitarian and compassionate reasons."
AFP reporters said that hundreds of people waited outside Yangon’s Insein Prison on Sunday, hoping for the release of their relatives, holding documents bearing prisoners’ names. This prison is notorious for alleged severe human rights abuses.
A man outside the prison said: “I am waiting for my father to be released. He was arrested and imprisoned for his political activism.
“His sentence is about to end. I hope he can be released soon.”
In another statement, the council said that it would also release and deport 52 foreign prisoners.
The council stated that this annual prisoner amnesty coincided with Myanmar celebrating the 78th anniversary of freeing itself from British colonial rule, describing the move as "out of humanitarian and compassionate reasons."
AFP reporters said that hundreds of people waited outside Yangon’s Insein Prison on Sunday, hoping for the release of their relatives, holding documents bearing prisoners’ names. This prison is notorious for alleged severe human rights abuses.
A man outside the prison said: “I am waiting for my father to be released. He was arrested and imprisoned for his political activism.
“His sentence is about to end. I hope he can be released soon.”