Myanmar Junta Says It Will Free 1,600 Prisoners, Political Protestors Excluded

Yangon:

Households of detained Myanmar protesters had their hopes dashed Sunday after political prisoners weren’t included in some 1,600 individuals launched by the junta to mark the Buddhist new yr.

The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian authorities was ousted final yr in a navy coup, which sparked big protests and a lethal crackdown.

State tv introduced that 1,619 prisoners, together with 42 foreigners, had been “pardoned” and shall be launched to mark the brand new yr — an annual custom that final yr noticed 23,000 prisoners freed.

A prisoner launched from Yangon’s Insein jail advised AFP that “political circumstances and protesters weren’t amongst these launched”, with authorities solely liberating criminals.

Crowds in entrance of the jail slowly left on Sunday afternoon. Greater than 100 individuals had gathered hoping to be reunited with family members, AFP correspondents stated.

Amongst them was a lady ready for her 19-year-old nephew, sentenced to a few years imprisonment for incitement in opposition to the navy.

“He was younger, and he might have some feeling to combat,” she stated, declining to provide her identify.

“I want all younger kids shall be launched together with my nephew. All of them had been harmless.”

Aye Myint, whose 19-year-old daughter was serving three years on a political cost, had hoped she can be launched.

“Now, she has been a couple of yr in jail,” Aye Myint stated.

Subdued vacation

At round noon, a jail officer confirmed that “about 160 prisoners together with six ladies prisoners” had been launched from Insein, with out giving extra particulars.

There was no point out of the Australian economist Sean Turnell, a former Suu Kyi advisor who was arrested shortly after the coup.

He’s at the moment on trial for allegedly breaching the official secrets and techniques act, which carries a most 14-year jail sentence.

The precise particulars of his alleged offence haven’t been made public, although state tv has stated he had entry to “secret state monetary data” and had tried to flee Myanmar.

The nation sometimes grants an annual amnesty to hundreds of prisoners to mark the Buddhist New Yr, often a joyous vacation celebrated in lots of elements with water fights.

However this yr, with the bloody navy crackdown on dissent, the streets in lots of main cities have been silent as individuals protest junta rule.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)