Myanmar releases thousands of prisoners amid coronavirus fears

More than a quarter of Myanmar’s prison population is being released, the president’s office announced yesterday, after calls grew to ease pressure on overcrowded jails with coronavirus fears gripping the country.

The Southeast Asian nation grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its April New Year holiday, but this is the largest recorded in recent years.

“To mark Myanmar New Year, by respecting humanitarian ground and peace in mind of the people, the president pardons altogether 24,896 prisoners from various prisons,” a statement yesterday from the president’s office said.

As news of the amnesty spread, crowds defied a new ban on gatherings of five or more people to assemble outside Yangon’s notorious Insein prison, hoping to see their family members freed.

As buses brought the newlyreleased through the prison gates, cheers erupted with people waving flowers and reaching to grasp the hands of relatives leaning out of the bus windows.

Wearing a mask, Ei Nge said she came to the prison as soon as she heard about the amnesty.

“I’m not even thinking about coronavirus. I just really want to see my son.”

So far Myanmar has officially confirmed 85 cases of Covid-19, including four deaths, but experts fear the real number is many times higher because of the low numbers being tested.

The country is under a nationwide lockdown and there had been growing pressure to release inmates from what Human Rights Watch (HRW) branded “horribly overcrowded and unsanitary” jails.

The president’s office said 87 foreigners included in the amnesty would be deported.

By yesterday afternoon the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said it only had confirmation of the release of 12 of 76 prisoners of conscience, but the group was holding out hope for the others. (AFP)