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Thousands of prisoners were released in Myanmar to mark Independence Day.

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More than 6,000 prisoners have been released by Myanmar’s military government, and the sentences of other inmates have been reduced as part of a mass amnesty marking the 77th anniversary of independence from Britain on Saturday.

Included among those released were only a small proportion of the hundreds of political detainees who had been jailed for opposing army rule since the military seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. That takeover had been met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since turned into widespread armed struggle.

It was reported by state-run MRTV television that amnesties were granted by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, covering 5,864 prisoners from Myanmar, as well as 180 foreigners who are to be deported. Mass prisoner releases are commonly carried out on holidays and other significant occasions in Myanmar.

The terms of the release warn that if the freed detainees violate the law again, they will be required to serve the remainder of their original sentences in addition to any new sentences.

In a separate report, it was said that the life sentences of 144 prisoners had been commuted to 15 years’ imprisonment by Min Aung Hlaing. No details about these prisoners were provided in the report.

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