The State Administration Council (SAC) of Myanmar has announced the release of thousands of prisoners, including 13 Indonesians and 15 Sri Lankans, under section 401, subsection (1) of Myanmar’s legal framework. This move comes ahead of the traditional New Year celebrations.
A total of 3,303 prisoners were granted amnesty today, which also includes a number of political detainees. However, the exact number of political prisoners among those granted clemency has not been disclosed.
Since the military coup in Myanmar, over 26,500 individuals have been incarcerated, with more than 20,300 still in detention. Despite this significant release, concerns persist regarding the condition and treatment of those remaining in custody.
The Myanmar junta has also stipulated that reoffenders among the pardoned individuals will face the reinstatement of their original sentence alongside additional penalties. Furthermore, it has been announced that the sentences of the remaining prisoners will be reduced by one-sixth, except for those convicted under specific charges such as weapons offenses, natural disaster management, terrorism, corruption, and drug laws.
