The Burmese junta announced, Wednesday, May 3, the amnesty of more than 2,000 prisoners sentenced for dissent against the military in power, on the occasion of a Buddhist festival.
The military has released “2,153 prisoners serving their 505(a) sentences,” it said in a statement, citing a loosely worded law often used against journalists or activists in the country. pretext for statements that could cause fear or concern in the population.
This controversial text, whose use became widespread after the coup of February 1, 2021, provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison.
More than 21,000 people arrested since the military coup
The army assured to act for “peace in the minds of the population and on humanitarian grounds”. Those who break the law again will have to serve the remainder of their sentence with an additional penalty, the statement said.
More than 21,000 people have been arrested since the military putsch that ended the democratic parenthesis initiated by the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a local monitoring group. The junta, accused of carrying out a fierce crackdown on any dissenting voice, sentenced at least 170 journalists to prison terms, the United Nations estimated.
The power is used to announcing large-scale amnesties to mark national or Buddhist holidays. The country celebrates a holy full moon day in the Buddhist calendar on Wednesday.
