Political prisoners released in Myanmar mass amnesty

Excited families greeted relatives released from Myanmar’s Insein Prison on Thursday as part of a mass amnesty granted by the country’s military regime ahead of next month’s election.

At least eight buses carrying prisoners were welcomed outside the gate of the Yangon prison at 11:30 a.m. by relatives and friends who had been waiting since early morning.

The regime granted amnesty to more than 3,000 people locked up for opposing army rule and dropped charges against more than 5,500 others, regime media reported on Wednesday. The amnesty was intended to ensure eligible voters could participate in the elections starting on Dec. 28, it said.

An official from Insein Prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information, confirmed prisoners would be released starting Thursday but did not say how many or who they were. In past amnesties, releases have taken several days.

There was no sign that the prisoner release would include State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who led the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which was ousted in the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 and has been held incommunicado since then.

Among those freed were Kyi Toe, a member of NLD’s central information committee, and freelance journalist Zaw Lin Htut, also known as Phoe Thar. Both were arrested in 2021.

“I am determined to work with Aunty until I am 90 years old,” Kyi Toe told journalists as he arrived outside the prison gate. Aunty is a common expression of respect for Aung San Suu Kyi among senior NLD members.