Myanmar Frees 4,335 Prisoners in Thingyan Amnesty

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing has ordered the release of 4,335 prisoners and sentence reductions for others as part of an amnesty marking the traditional Thingyan New Year festival. The announcement, reported by state-run media on Friday, includes the deportation of 179 foreign nationals among those freed. The move comes one week after Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president following a parliamentary election.

Relatives and supporters gathered outside Insein Prison on the northern outskirts of Yangon from early morning, hoping for news of loved ones. Authorities did not disclose the identities of those released, and there were no indications that prominent political detainees would be included. The amnesty also commutes all death sentences to life imprisonment, reduces life terms to 40 years, and cuts other prison sentences by one-sixth. Under these terms, former leader Aung San Suu Kyi's 27-year sentence for charges including incitement, corruption, election fraud, and violating state secrets would be shortened by 4.5 years. Suu Kyi, 80, remains imprisoned, with her allies maintaining that the convictions were politically motivated to sideline her after the 2021...