Myanmar’s military leader has authorized the release of over 10,000 inmates while reducing sentences for additional prisoners in observance of a national holiday, according to state media reports released Monday.
However, there are no indications that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was removed from power during the 2021 military coup and has remained in isolation since, will be among those freed.
This prisoner release occurs just two weeks prior to parliament’s scheduled reconvening for its initial session in over five years, following a recent election that opposition groups characterized as lacking freedom and fairness.
According to state broadcaster MRTV, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmar’s military administration, freed 10,162 inmates on Peasants’ Day, a national celebration dedicated to agricultural workers. Among those released, 7,337 had been sentenced under anti-terrorism legislation.
An additional announcement revealed that 12,487 individuals who faced prosecution under the same law or had gone into hiding will also receive pardons and have their incitement charges dismissed.
This legislation includes possible death sentences and has been extensively employed to detain and convict political dissidents, media personnel, and other critics following the military’s 2021 seizure of power.
The statements also indicated that ten foreign nationals will be freed and expelled from Myanmar.
Holiday-related mass prisoner releases are common practice in Myanmar. While the releases started Monday, the process may continue for several days. Officials have not yet disclosed the names of those being freed.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent group that maintains comprehensive records of arrests and deaths related to the country’s political turmoil, reports that over 22,800 political prisoners remained in custody as of last Friday.
Among these detainees is the 80-year-old Suu Kyi, who is currently serving a 27-year prison term following convictions that her supporters describe as politically motivated legal proceedings.
