Myanmar military junta grants amnesty to over 4,000 prisoners

Yangon. Myanmar's military leadership has granted amnesty or reduced sentences for over 4,000 prisoners. According to state media MRTV, this decision covers a total of 4,335 inmates.

This move is considered one of the first major decisions by military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was recently appointed as president. He had only recently taken the oath of office as president.

According to government reports, the death sentences of prisoners have been commuted to life imprisonment, while life sentences have been reduced to 40 years. Other prisoners have received a one-sixth reduction in their sentences. 

This amnesty also includes 179 foreign nationals. It has been stated that they will be released and deported from the country. Most significantly, former President Win Myint has also been pardoned. He had been in detention since the 2021 military coup and was serving sentences on various charges. 

Similarly, the sentence of ousted leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has also been reduced, according to her lawyer. However, it remains unclear whether she will be fully released or kept under house arrest.

Although the government statement did not mention the status of some political prisoners, families of inmates in prisons across the country are waiting in hope of their release.

Scenes of family members gathering outside Insein Prison in Yangon, hoping for the release of their relatives, have been observed. Meanwhile, human rights groups have stated that the crackdown in Myanmar following the 'coup' still continues.