The amnesty was announced on the occasion of 75 years of independence from Britain. The junta itself has not provided a statement regarding who was released, but according to the UN, reliable sources confirmed that there were political prisoners among them. They were people involved in massive protests against the military rulers after the coup in early 2021.
Relieved
According to local human rights organizations, at least 223 political prisoners have been released, but the remaining 77 have not been confirmed. “Their release is a relief for them and their families,” a UN spokesman said. “But on the day these people were released, 22 other political prisoners were arrested. It continues like this.”
Many of them were tortured during detention, according to a UN spokesperson. “This kind of detention is not only intended to silence people, but also to instill fear.”
In total, more than 17,000 people have been arrested since the coup in February 2021. Around 13,000 are trapped. (AP)
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Myanmar released 7,000 prisoners on Independence Day
Myanmar’s junta released more than 7,000 prisoners on Wednesday to mark the 75th Independence Day.
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