Junta’s amnesty initiative includes few political prisoners

January 8, 2024

HURFOM: In order to commemorate the 76^th Independence Day on January 4, 2024, the military junta freed 9,652 prisoners under terms of an amnesty initiative. 760 prisoners from Mon State were released, but only 31 political prisoners were included in the list of those released.

“They’re jailed for breaching the Anti-Terrorism Act Section 505(A) and their remaining prison term was less than a year. They selected those who are about to be released. Some prisons freed no political prisoners. Those who have been released were jailed for stealing or robbery,” said a local source.

Kyikemayaw Central Prison released 23 political prisoners and Thaton Prison freed 8 political prisoners. Most were jailed under 505(A) and their remaining prison term was just under one year.

Those freed under the amnesty initiative were jailed for participating in an illegal gambling, according to an official from the Mon State Prison Department.

“670 prisoners were freed in Mon State. Only 31 political prisoners have been included in the list. The junta has no intention to release all political prisoners. They’ve wanted to manipulate the status of political prisoners. When they’re politically pressured, they just release some of them. That’s all,” said an activist who works for political prisoners’ welfare.

According to the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (AAPP), as of January 4, 2024, 19,929 individuals remain detained across Burma. The list of prisoners released under this amnesty initiative include only 4.6% of all political prisoners.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News