In a move marking the 77th anniversary of Myanmar's independence from Britain, the country's military government announced a mass amnesty on Saturday, pledging to release over 6,000 prisoners.

Questions remain, however, over whether political prisoners—many of whom were detained for opposing the military following the February 2021 coup—are among those set to be freed.

The military coup, which toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparked widespread protests and an armed resistance across the nation.

State-run broadcaster MRTV reported that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the military government, approved the release of 5,864 Myanmar nationals and 180 foreign nationals, with the latter set to be deported.

Large-scale amnesties have traditionally coincided with national holidays and significant events in Myanmar.

Since the coup, a staggering 28,096 people have been arrested on political charges, with 21,499 still behind bars. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 6,106 civilians have lost their lives at the hands of security forces, though this figure excludes casualties from ongoing armed conflicts.

BOB Post