Myanmar Releases 6,000 Prisoners in Amnesty

Myanmar's military government has announced the release of approximately 6,000 prisoners, including 180 foreign nationals, as part of an annual amnesty to mark the country's 77th Independence Day. The amnesty, granted by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, includes 5,864 domestic prisoners, with only a small fraction being political detainees jailed for opposing the regime. Notably absent from the list of pardoned individuals is Aung San Suu Kyi, the former leader serving a 27-year sentence on multiple charges widely considered politically motivated. The junta has faced international calls to release political prisoners, yet this amnesty reflects a continued pattern of selective releases during national holidays. Additionally, some prisoners had their sentences commuted, but the military warns that any re-offending will result in serving their original sentences. This strategic move by the junta comes amidst ongoing turmoil and criticism regarding their plans to conduct elections in 2025, which are deemed a sham by opposition groups.