Myanmar’s Junta Government has announced the release of nearly 6,000 prisoners to mark the country’s 77th Independence Day.
This annual amnesty is a tradition in Myanmar, where mass amnesties are granted to commemorate national holidays and Buddhist festivals.
According to reports, over 5,800 individuals, including 180 foreign nationals, will be freed.
Approximately 600 of those pardoned were convicted under Section 505 (a) of the penal code, a law that penalizes actions deemed to undermine the military.
The junta spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, confirmed that most foreign prisoners granted amnesty were Thai nationals detained for involvement in border casino operations. The military claims that the pardons were issued “on humanitarian and compassionate grounds”.
Notably, the sentences of 144 prisoners serving life terms were reduced to 15 years. Last year, the junta released over 9,000 prisoners during Independence Day celebrations.
This move comes amidst ongoing political turmoil following the military’s coup in February 2021, which ended a brief period of democratic governance.
Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 ethnic groups, bordering India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand.
Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the country’s largest city, is home to bustling markets, numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains Buddhist relics and dates to the 6th century.
