Over 6,000 prisoners released by Myanmar junta

TT

Published 2026-01-04 20.11 

 

             

           Relatives hold up signs with the names of loved ones they hope will be released during an annual             amnesty. Photo: Thein Zaw/AP/TT       

Myanmar's military junta has granted amnesty to 6,134 prisoners, including 52 foreign nationals.

The annual amnesty coincides with the country celebrating 78 years of independence from British colonial rule. The releases come just a week after the start of an election in the country that has been criticized as rigged.

Hundreds of prisoners were able to leave a prison in the former capital Rangoon (Yangon) on Sunday. Many relatives waited outside the prison hoping for their loved ones to be released.

Among the prisoners released was Ye Htut, the information minister and spokesman for President Thein Sein in a previous junta. He had served two years of a 10-year sentence for sedition, among other charges.

Myanmar's junta has granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners in connection with the holidays.