Myanmar grants amnesty to 7,000 prisoners on 75th anniversary of independence

Bangkok, Jan 4 (EFE).- The Myanmar military junta on Wednesday granted amnesty to 7,012 prisoners on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence, but it remains unknown whether it includes political prisoners.

Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun confirmed to EFE the amnesty on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day, but did not clarify whether the move would also benefit political prisoners, such as the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The amnesty, a common initiative in Myanmar on designated occasions, comes five days after Suu Kyi was sentenced to seven years in prison in her latest trial.

The Nobel Peace laureate has now been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison on multiple charges, all of which she denies.

In previous amnesties, the junta had released a small number of political prisoners among the thousands behind bars, and some of them were arrested again later.

The military junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has been increasingly isolated by the international community.

The UN Security Council, the European Union and the United States, among others, have called for the release of all political prisoners and an end to the violence.

However, Min Aung Hlaing also received greetings on the 75th anniversary of independence from international leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and Nepalese President Budya Devi Bhandari, according to the official newspapr Global New light of Myanmar.

On Feb.1, 2021, a military coup in Myanmar plunged the country into a deep political, economic, and social crisis, which has aggravated armed ethnic conflicts raging in the country for decades.

At least 2,692 people have been killed due to the brutal repression by security forces, who have shot to kill peaceful and unarmed protesters, and more than 13,300 remain in detention, according to the nonprofit Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Myanmar gained independence from British rule on Jan.4, 1948. Since then, it has witnessed prevailing ethnic conflict, and been under military rule for most of its recent history (1962-2011 and since 2021). EFE

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