More than 10,000 prisoners released in Myanmar amnesty

Myanmar’s military regime announced on Monday that it has released over 10,000 prisoners—most of them detained on terror-related charges—in a nationwide amnesty that also saw more than 9,500 cases closed. More than 7,000 of the freed prisoners had been held and prosecuted under Section 50j and Section 52a of the Counter-Terrorism Law, the junta said in a statement. Section 50j applies to those suspected of providing or receiving financial support for groups deemed by the regime to be terrorist organisations, while Section 52a deals with those who knowingly contact or assist such groups. The 7,373 freed prisoners who had been held on these charges were granted remission of punishment in accordance with Section 401, Sub-section 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the statement said. Furthermore, an order was issued under Section 417 of the Constitution to close 9,532 cases involving 12,487 defendants currently undergoing trial in various courts under the same sections of the Counter-Terrorism Law. It is reported that this includes some defendants who were not in custody because they had managed to evade arrest. Prisoners are welcomed by loved ones upon their release from Yangon’s Insein Prison on March 2 (Photo: Kan Kaung / Myanmar Now) Additionally, another 2,825 male and female prisoners held on other charges were also given provisional releases, and 10 foreign prisoners were also freed and deported. Under Section 401, Sub-section 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, prisoners are released on the condition that “if a crime is committed again, the remaining sentence currently owed shall continue to be served.” March 2, 1962, was the day General Ne Win seized power from Myanmar’s civilian government, in the first of several military coups that have marred the country’s development. The day has since been designated as Peasants’ Day, a national holiday. In its statement, the current regime announced that it declared the amnesty out of humanitarian considerations, and to bring “peace of mind” to the public. It is unusual for so many political prisoners to be included in the regime’s periodic amnesties, which usually favour detainees held for non-political offences. According to figures released at the end of February by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the regime has imprisoned more than 30,500 of its opponents since seizing power five years ago, of whom nearly 23,000 remained behind bars.

More than 10,000 prisoners released in Myanmar amnesty

The majority of the freed detainees had been held under terror-related charges, the regime said in a statement

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