Myanmar Junta Releases Nearly 4,900 Prisoners in New Year Amnesty

Myanmar’s military government has granted amnesty to nearly 4,900 prisoners as part of a customary gesture marking the country’s traditional New Year, according to state-run media. The move, announced Thursday, comes amid ongoing political turmoil and widespread detentions following the military’s 2021 coup.

At least 19 buses carrying released inmates departed from Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, where crowds of relatives and friends had gathered since early morning to greet their loved ones.

Political Detainees Among Those Freed

According to the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar, an independent watchdog that tracks human rights violations in the country’s prison system, the mass release included at least 22 political prisoners. The organization emphasized that its tally was preliminary and subject to updates.

State broadcaster MRTV reported that 4,893 prisoners were pardoned by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the ruling military council. An additional 13 foreign nationals were among those released and will be deported, the report said.

Some prisoners also received reduced sentences, although individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, or offenses under security-related legislation were excluded from the clemency.

Under the terms of the amnesty, any released inmate who violates the law again will be required to serve the remainder of their original sentence in addition to any new punishment.

Wider Context of Political Repression

Mass amnesties during major holidays are not uncommon in Myanmar. However, the country remains under strict military rule following the ousting of the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The coup sparked nationwide nonviolent protests, which have since escalated into armed resistance in many areas.

As of last week, more than 22,000 political detainees were believed to be in custody, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a separate advocacy group that documents arrests, deaths, and other abuses tied to the ongoing conflict.

Many of those detained face charges of incitement—a broadly applied law that critics say is used to silence dissent and punish opposition to the military regime. Convictions under this charge can result in prison sentences of up to three years.