Myanmar: 23,000 prisoners are freed

Myanmar’s junta announced it had pardoned and released more than 23,000 prisoners under a New Year amnesty.

However, it was not immediately clear if they included prodemocracy activists who were detained in the wake of the February coup. The release was announced on state broadcaster MRTV, which said that the military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, pardoned the 23,047 prisoners, including 137 foreigners who will be deported from Myanmar.

He also reduced sentences for others.

Early prisoner releases are customary during major holidays, but this is the second time the ruling junta has done so since it overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.