Myanmar pardons nearly 6,000 prisoners on National Day

(CLO) Myanmar has decided to pardon 5,864 prisoners, including 180 foreigners, on the occasion of the Southeast Asian country's National Day (January 4, 1948).

The Myanmar military government's decision to grant amnesty marks 77 years since the country gained independence from British colonial rule, state media reported.

The military said on Saturday that it had ordered the release “on humanitarian and compassionate grounds” and would commute the life sentences of 144 people to 15 years, state broadcaster MRTV reported.

General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar's military government. Photo: CC/Wiki

According to some sources, the foreigners to be released may include four Thai fishermen who were arrested in late November last year. The Thai prime minister said she hoped the four would be released by Independence Day.

Myanmar regularly pardons thousands of people to mark Buddhist holidays or festivals. Last year, the military government announced the release of more than 9,000 prisoners to mark independence day. A similar release took place in October 2021.

The speech by Myanmar’s military chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, was read by Deputy Prime Minister and Army Chief General Soe Win. In the speech, he called on ethnic minority armed groups, who have been fighting against the military regime for the past four years, to lay down their arms and “resolve their political problems through peaceful means.”

Myanmar has been in turmoil since early 2021, after the military staged a military coup that sparked a nationwide armed uprising. The military government has announced that elections will be held this year.

Two weeks ago, Arakan Army rebels seized a major regional command in western Myanmar, the second to fall to the armed resistance movement in five months. The group also recently took control of a 271-kilometer stretch of the border with Bangladesh when it captured the town of Maungdaw.

Among those detained by the military government is former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence on 14 criminal charges ranging from incitement, election fraud to corruption. She denies all charges.

Ha Trang (according to MRTV, AJ, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/myanmar-an-xa-cho-gan-6000-tu-nhan-dip-quoc-khanh-post329016.html