Military Council releases more than 800 prisoners in amnesty

The military council announced today that 814 prisoners from prisons across the country will be pardoned to mark the 75th anniversary of the Union Day, which falls on February 12.

It is not known how many people will be released from prisons in which cities, but some family members are from Rangoon or Rangoon. They waited in front of prisons in Mandalay and other cities.

At around 12.30 pm today, four minibuses and about 90 prisoners were released from Rangoon Insein Prison, according to an RFA correspondent covering the ground.

"I only know the list of 814 people according to the decree. "

Of the 90 people released from Insein Prison this afternoon, seven were women, not political prisoners, but ordinary prisoners.

At Obo Prison in Mandalay, some people were waiting for their release, and more than 30 non-political prisoners were released this afternoon, according to a prison guard.

Amnesty has been granted to 814 prisoners across the country, but no political prisoners have been released so far.

Among the 814 people who will be pardoned by the military council are political prisoners. Without saying no, they are being used as prisoners in violation of existing laws.

Which prisons does RFA want? An official from the Department of Prisons was asked what plans were being made for the release of the prisoners, but they said they only knew the total list.

"We only know about 814 people," he said. Q: I only know the total list of 814 people. This is (to release the detainees) so their bottom line is that they will do it all. Q: You only have a list here. Q: According to the order, only 814 people are known. We only know the total list, but we do not know the details. "

In addition to the 814 detainees, 46 have been arrested on charges of having links with the Arakan Army (AA) and 46 are facing trial. Former Karen State Prime Minister Nang Khin Htwe Myint, who was sentenced to 80 years in prison, has also been given a half-sentence.

Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the group of former political prisoners, criticized the military council's actions as politically motivated.

"On the other hand, he will hold a general ceremony. Then we will have dinner and make lasting peace. That day, he issued an amnesty, declaring that he was a humanitarian. The release of prisoners; Aunty Nang was sentenced to 80 years in prison and halved. "There is really no political will and no political will at all, and that is not the answer."

Section 401 provides for additional penalties for those who declare their release by the military council. He added that the inclusion of sub-section (1) binds the freed prisoners.

According to information received around 3 pm today, the military council has released about 90 people from Rangoon's Insein Prison. Around 30 in Mandalay Obo Prison; 46 from Sittwe Prison and Shwebo Prison in Sagaing Division; Kawthaung Prison is releasing only a few prisoners.

More than 5,600 people were arrested on October 18 and 19 last year. On June 30, the military council released more than 2,200 people, including some political prisoners and journalists. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), 9,087 people were detained between February 1, 2021 and February 11, 2022, of which 703 were convicted.