Myanmar’s junta has announced the release of more than 800 prisoners from various prisons. They will be released under a general amnesty on the occasion of Union Day. Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing said in a statement. News AFP.
Myanmar celebrates February 12 every year as Union Day, commemorating the historic Penglong Agreement signed in 1948. Today marks the 75th anniversary of Saturday.
A statement issued today by the junta said that 614 prisoners would be released under a general amnesty on the occasion of the country’s Union Day diamond jubilee celebrations on February 12.
Janta spokesman J Min Tun told AFP that more prisoners would be released from various prisons in Yangon under the amnesty this year. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.
Shaun, an economics professor, served as an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s ousted pro-democracy leader. He was arrested just days after a military coup in the country last year. He is accused of violating Myanmar’s state secrecy laws. If convicted, Shawn Turnell could face up to 14 years in prison.
Last year, the junta released about 23,000 prisoners on the occasion of Union Day. At the time, some human rights groups feared that the move was aimed at reducing hostilities and creating chaos in society.
Protests erupted after a military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021. The Myanmar army launched a large-scale crackdown on protesters. More than 1,500 civilians have been killed in the past year, according to AFP, citing a local watchdog group. About 12,000 people have been arrested.