Myanmar Junta to free over 9,000 inmates for humanitarian reasons

Myanmar's army leaders have announced the release of 9,652 prisoners including 114 foreigners in honour of the country's independence day. 

2024 01 04T053452Z 1 LYNXMPEK0304L RTROPTP 4 MYANMAR POLITICS COUP JAPAN scaled
FILE PHOTO: Myanmar protesters residing in Japan raise photos of Aung San Suu Kyi during a rally to mark the second anniversary of Myanmar's 2021 military coup, outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Tokyo, Japan February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

In a brief statement on state media, the Junta stated, “With the intention of maintaining relations with other countries and on humanitarian grounds, 114 foreign prisoners will be pardoned; they will be deported.”

News from the country’s commercial capital, Yangon, shows groups of people gathered near Insein Prison anticipating the release.

Notably, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi remains a prisoner fighting a total of 27 years in detention after being accused of offences including, elections fraud and corruption despite denying all charges.

Myanmar traditionally releases prisoners on occasions commemorating the country’s declaration of independence from British rule. The amnesty gesture is seen as an annual practice by authorities.

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