Myanmar grants amnesty to nearly 6,000 prisoners on National Day.

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

The decision by Myanmar's military junta to grant amnesty marks the 77th anniversary of the country's independence from British colonial rule, according to state media reports.

The military said on Saturday that it had ordered the release "for humanitarian and compassionate reasons" and would reduce the life sentences of 144 people to 15 years, according to state television MRTV.

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

According to some sources, the released foreigners may include four Thai fishermen who were arrested in late November last year. The Thai Prime Minister said she hoped these four would be released on National Day.

Myanmar regularly pardons thousands of people to celebrate 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 army chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, was read by Deputy Prime Minister and Army General Soe Win. In his 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 weapons and “resolve political issues through peaceful means.”

Since the beginning of 2021, Myanmar has been plunged into serious turmoil after the military staged a coup, sparking a nationwide armed uprising. The military government has announced it will hold elections this year.

Two weeks ago, the Arakan Army rebel forces seized a major regional command center in western Myanmar, the second such center to fall to the armed resistance movement in five months. The group also recently gained control of a 271-kilometer stretch of border with Bangladesh after capturing 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 related to 14 criminal charges ranging from incitement and electoral fraud to corruption. She denies all allegations.

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