Sources close to the head of the Department of Prisons have reported that eight political prisoners were released from Myeik Prison and Dawei Prison.
An official from Myeik Prison Department said that six political prisoners were freed from Myeik Prison in Tanintharyi Region as the military council granted amnesty on 4 January to commemorate the 77th Anniversary Independence Day.
A total of 32 prisoners were released from Myeik Prison, including six political prisoners—three men and three women.
The political prisoners released from Myeik Prison include Ma War War Myint, sentenced to life imprisonment from Tanintharyi Township; Ma Thi Thi Cho, sentenced to seven years from Palaw Township; and Daw Aye Aye Win, sentenced to three years. The three male political prisoners are still under scrutiny, according to a prison officer.
Similarly, 13 prisoners, including two political prisoners, were released from Dawei Prison under the amnesty, according to an official from the Department of Prisons.
The freed political prisoners are Ma Win Win Ei from Launglon Township and Ko Phyo Htike Zaw from Dawei.
The freed female political prisoner had been sentenced to ten years in prison under Section 50 (J) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, while the male political prisoner had been sentenced to three years under Section 505 (A).
Dawei Prison holds a total of over 1,000 prisoners, including more than 400 political prisoners.
The mother of a political prisoner in Dawei Prison said, “When I heard that the prisoners would be pardoned, I went and waited with joy since early in the morning. My son is not on the list of those being released. Just like me, many families of political prisoners and other prisoners are waiting.”
The prisoners were released with the condition that if they commit any further crimes, they will have to serve their previous sentence in addition to the new one.
A father of a political prisoner waiting in front of Myeik Prison said, “I’ve been waiting at the gate since early this morning, as I heard the amnesty would be granted. My son is not on the list of those being released. I felt both happy and saddened to see the release of other political prisoners.”
Family members of political prisoners say that many political prisoners who were not included in the amnesty list are still being held in Myeik Prison.
The junta-backed media announced that, to commemorate the 77th Anniversary Independence Day, 5,864 inmates from prisons across Myanmar have been released from their sentences to promote peace of mind and foster social support.
The military council’s spokesperson, Major General Zaw Min Tun, told the media under the Ministry of Information that approximately 600 political prisoners sentenced under Section 505 for defamation will be released, in the interest of national reconciliation and peace.
Although Major General Zaw Min Tun stated that about 600 political prisoners would be released through amnesty, current data from 10 prisons, according to the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPNM), shows that only around 150 political prisoners have been released.
Sent by NMG
