Myanmar to free 7,000 prisoners for Independence day

On Jan 4, 2023

Myanmar’s junta announced an amnesty for 7,000 prisoners to mark Independence Day on Wednesday, January 4, following a show of force in Naypyidaw days after increasing democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi’s jail term to 33 years.

Swaths of the Southeast Asian country have been engulfed by fighting between junta troops and anti-coup rebels since the military seized power almost two years ago.

The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of Ms. Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh elections later this year that the United States has said would be a “sham”.

Civil servants and high school students followed the troops, accompanied by a military band as 750 “peace” doves were released to mark the occasion, according to state media.

Later in the day, the junta announced it would free 7,012 prisoners to mark the anniversary, though it did not specify whether the amnesty would include those jailed as part of a crackdown on dissent.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not respond to a request for comment on whether Suu Kyi would be moved from her prison to house arrest as part of the amnesty.

Agencies