Myanmar's military-led government has released more than 4,500 prisoners and reduced sentences for others under a pardon order issued by President Min Aung Hlaing to coincide with the country's traditional new year celebrations, according to ABC News.
The amnesty was granted in connection with the Thingyan water festival, a culturally significant holiday that marks the Buddhist new year and is one of the most widely observed occasions in Myanmar. Mass prisoner releases tied to the holiday have been a recurring practice in the country.
The pardon order covers thousands of inmates across Myanmar's prison system, though details about the specific composition of those released - including how many were political prisoners versus those convicted of other offenses - were not immediately made clear by authorities.
Context of the release
The announcement comes as Myanmar continues to face significant internal turmoil following the military's seizure of power in February 2021. The coup ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered widespread civil unrest, an ongoing armed resistance movement, and international condemnation.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for the release of political prisoners held since the coup. Thousands of activists, journalists, politicians, and ordinary citizens are estimated to have been detained by the military government, which refers to itself as the State Administration Council.
Previous new year amnesties under the current military administration have drawn scrutiny from rights groups, who have noted that such releases often exclude those imprisoned specifically for political activities or opposition to military rule. It was not immediately confirmed whether any prominent political detainees were among those freed in the latest order.
Significance of timing
Thingyan, which typically falls in mid-April, holds deep cultural importance across Myanmar and is traditionally a time for renewal and communal celebration. Prisoner pardons issued during the holiday carry symbolic weight in the country's Buddhist cultural tradition.
The military government has periodically used such occasions to announce amnesties, a practice that predates the 2021 coup. Critics, however, have argued that these gestures do not substantively address the broader human rights situation in the country, where armed conflict between the military and resistance forces continues in multiple regions.
International pressure on Myanmar's military government has remained steady, with the United Nations and various governments continuing to call for a return to civilian rule and the release of all political prisoners.
