YANGON (Bernama/AFP) – Myanmar’s junta on Wednesday announced a pardon for more than 3,300 prisoners under a regular amnesty to mark the country’s traditional new year festival.
Remaining prisoners will have their sentences cut by one sixth, the junta said in a statement, except those convicted of serious offences including murder, terrorism and drugs charges.
Among them were 3,303 Myanmar nationals and 36 foreign prisoners, including 13 Indonesian nationals and 15 Sri Lankan nationals, the council said, reported Xinhua.
The amnesty is to mark Myanmar’s traditional New Year’s Day, bringing joy to the people and looking forward to positive relations with respective countries, while addressing humanitarian concerns, it said.
In a separate pardon order, the council reduced the sentences by one sixth for some prisoners jailed across the Southeast Asian country.
It’s a customary practice for Myanmar to pardon prisoners annually to celebrate its traditional new year.
Last year, over 3,000 prisoners were released on Myanmar’s traditional New Year’s Day.
