Myanmar's military authorities grant amnesty to thousands of prisoners

Myanmar’s military government have announced a large-scale prisoner amnesty, freeing more than 6,100 inmates and reducing the sentences of others to coincide with the 78th anniversary of the country’s independence from British rule.

The move comes as the leaders advance a monthlong, three-phase election process that critics argue is intended to lend a veneer of legitimacy to the current power structure, according to an article published by AP.

State television reported on January 4 that the head of the junta, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, had granted pardons to 6,134 prisoners. In a separate announcement, officials said 52 foreign nationals would also be released and deported, although their identities have not been made public.

Authorities cautioned that those released under the amnesty would be required to serve the remainder of their original sentences, in addition to any new penalties, if they are convicted of further offences.

Local media reported that Ye Htut, a former senior army officer who previously served as information minister and presidential spokesperson under a military-backed administration, was among the first inmates released from Yangon’s Insein Prison. Ye Htut was detained in October 2023 and sentenced to 10 years in prison the following month after being convicted of sedition and incitement over Facebook posts that prosecutors said contained false or inflammatory content.

The AP noted there was no indication that the amnesty would extend to former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She was removed from power during the 2021 military takeover and has since been held largely in isolation.

Alongside the mass pardon, other prisoners received sentence reductions, with the exception of those convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape, or those imprisoned under certain security-related laws.

Independent groups monitoring political repression worldwide have reported that more than 22,000 political prisoners remained in detention across Myanmar as of last week.

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, fell under British colonial rule in the late 19th century and regained independence in 1948.

By Nazrin Sadigova