Myanmar military On Thursday, the military junta released nearly 6,000 prisoners, including at least four high-ranking foreigners.
a former A British envoy, an Australian economic advisor, and a Japanese journalist, all together left myanmar on the same day, media Diplomatic sources said.
The country was located in Southeast Asia in Unrest since the military coup last year and bloody repression on Opposition during which thousands were imprisoned.
Former British envoy Vicki Bowman, who He was imprisoned for a year in September, it was on board A plane departed from Yangon at 5:26 pm local time (10:56 am GMT), according to an AFP correspondent. on The Plane.
The economic adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi was the Australian Sean Turnell, and the Japanese journalist Toru Kubota on Diplomatic sources told AFP that the same flight.
And 5,774 prisoners will be released, “including about 600 women,” the military council said in a permit.
three former Ministers deposed by Aung San Suu Kyi government Kyaw Htay O, a Myanmar-American citizen, was detained also Release him, junta official He said.
The military council said the four foreigners would be deported at a later date, although AFP was unable to do so confirm If Kyaw Htay Oo on Flight.
He did not say the military council in Her statement is an advertisement amnesty how many of Those who were pardoned had been arrested during the military crackdown on opposition.
Bowman who He served as ambassador from 2002 to 2006, and was arrested with to her husband in August for Not stating that she was living at a different address than one included on Foreign registration certificate.
They were later imprisoned for a year. Her husband will be the eminent Myanmar artist Htin Lin also It is released, and military official He said.
Relations between Myanmar and its countries former Colonial Britain soured since its military takeover, with This military council year He criticizes the recent UK rating downgrade of that it mission There it is “unacceptable”.
Turnell was working as an advisor to Myanmar’s civilian leader Suu Kyi when he was arrested shortly after the coup in February 2021.
He and Suu Kyi were convicted in September by the military junta closed court of to break official secrets acting and imprisoned for three years each.
Kubota, 26, was arrested in July near the anti-government rally in Yangon along with Two Myanmar nationals were imprisoned for 10 years.
He was the fifth foreign journalist to be arrested in Myanmar since the coup after US citizens Nathan Maung, Danny Finster, and Robert Bokaga of Poland and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan – all of who were later released and deported.
At least 170 journalists have been arrested since the coup according to UNESCO, with Almost 70 still in detention.
‘Very proud of for him’
Hundreds gathered outside Yangon Insein prison in In the hope that their loved ones will be among those released.
one woman, who did not want to me give her name for afraid of Revenge, she said, was waiting for her husbandand who It was halfway through a year’s sentence for Encourage the opposition against The military.
Before, USDP was a (military) backed political partySupporter, encourager, supporter. After the coup, he joined in protests. I’m very proud of She said.
Three buses left The main Gate of The sprawling colonial era prison After 3 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. GMT) a crowd of people passed by of about 200 people Waiting outside, an AFP correspondent said.
San San Aye said she was waiting for to free her brothers and sisters.
“three of “They are sentenced to three years in prison every eight months,” she told AFP.
“they children waiting in home. we will be more Who would be happy if they were released.
does not depend on analyst “Professor Tornell’s release is remarkable,” David Matheson told AFP news After being held hostage by the regime family Friends will be delighted.
However, he said, the junta’shows number sign of Reform and the masses amnesty does not excuse them of atrocities committed since the coup.”
Regional Amnesty office The spokesman said: “Thousands of people imprisoned since the coup in Myanmar did nothing wrong And the should He was not imprisoned in The first place. “
More than 2,300 civilians have been killed since the war and military crackdown on Opposition after she overthrew Suki governmentaccording to Myanmar Monitor group.
The military council blames the anti-coup fighters for death of approximately 3,900 civilians.
