During Myanmar’s new year celebration, 4,893 prisoners and 13 foreign prisoners granted amnesty
Mizzima
Marking the Myanmar New Year on 17 April, the Myanmar junta has announced a conditional amnesty for 4,893 prisoners across the country. Those released under this pardon will face reinstatement of their previous sentences if they reoffend. Additionally, one-sixth of the sentences of other inmates will be remitted.
The release was made under Section 401(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows conditional pardons. As part of the gesture, 13 foreign nationals are also being granted clemency and will be deported.
The move is seen by some observers as a political strategy ahead of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s scheduled meeting with ASEAN leaders. It is speculated that the release of certain political prisoners may be intended to curry favour and legitimacy at the regional summit.
Prisoners are set to be released starting this afternoon from various prisons and detention centres nationwide.
In a related development, several high-profile businessmen who were arrested in 2022 have been released ahead of the official amnesty announcement. Among them is Chit Khaing, chairman of Eden Group of Companies, who was released from Mandalay’s Obo Prison at around on 12 April. He had been serving a sentence related to alleged tax corruption involving the Tigyit coal power project.
He was detained in April 2022 along with former Union Ministers Ohn Win and Ohn Khaing, and Deputy Minister Dr. Tun Naing, all of whom had served under the previous National League for Democracy (NLD) government.
Also released is Zay Thiha on 12 April, son of Zaykabar Group owner Khin Shwe, from Insein Prison in Yangon. Several edible oil business owners were reportedly freed as well, though full details are yet to emerge.
