Myanmar junta likely to free over 23,000 prisoners marking Buddhist New Year

NAYPYIDAW: Even as the military continues to detain and issue arrest warrants for anti-coup activists, the military junta plans to set free more than 23,000 prisoners nationwide.

Myanmar typically grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its traditional Buddhist New Year celebrations -- which in previous years have been joyous affairs with city-wide water fights.

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Thousands of prisoners are usually granted amnesty each year to commemorate Myanmar's traditional Buddhist New Year celebrations. The annual festival is celebrated from April 13.

However, with the military in power again after ousting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, anti-coup activists have taken advantage of the holiday to protest the rising death toll and mass arrests.

It's uncertain if anti-junta demonstrators or journalists imprisoned for reporting the coup will be released.

More than 23,000 people will be released from prisons across the country, sources said.

The junta released a similar number of prisoners in February, prompting concerns from human rights organisations that the move was intended to make room for military critics while also causing instability in communities.

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A rebel group executed a man who had been released as part of the amnesty and had allegedly raped and murdered a five-year-old girl on Wednesday.

Around 900 imprisoned protesters were also released just before Armed Forces Day.

According to the sources, more than 3,100 people have been arrested since the February 1 coup, the majority of whom are anti-coup demonstrators and activists.

Healthcare workers in Myanmar have been at the forefront of a national civil disobedience campaign, refusing to operate under the military regime. During the pandemic, many of the country's hospitals have been left unstaffed.

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