The military government in Myanmar will pardon over six thousand inmates in observance of Independence Day, as announced by state media on Sunday.
A statement from the National Defence and Security Council indicated that junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has granted clemency to 6,134 incarcerated citizens of Myanmar.
This clemency also extends to 52 foreign nationals who will be pardoned and subsequently deported from the country.
Additionally, the military administration reduced the sentences of all inmates by one-sixth, with the exception of those found guilty of grave offenses like homicide, sexual assault, acts of terror, bribery, and violations related to weapons or narcotics.
Although the inmates will be set free, the conditions of their release caution that any subsequent conviction will require them to complete the remainder of their initial sentence along with any newly imposed penalty.
The amnesty comes amidst a three-phase electoral procedure spanning a month, which opponents argue is intended to fabricate an appearance of legitimacy for the military regime’s authority.
Following its seizure of power in 2021, the military regime has detained thousands of individuals involved in demonstrations.
It remains uncertain whether those being pardoned also include detainees held for political reasons who opposed the military’s assumption of control in 2021.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, over 22,000 individuals are detained for political reasons, including former head of government Aung San Suu Kyi, who was removed from office during the 2021 military takeover.
Large-scale inmate releases are a customary practice during holidays and significant events in Myanmar and typically require several days to finalise.
This yearly pardon of prisoners, described by the National Security Council as being “on humanitarian and compassionate grounds,” coincides with the nation commemorating 78 years of independence from British colonial governance.
