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dpa
Bangkok
Myanmar’s military granted amnesty to more than 23,000 prisoners as the country began marking it traditional New Year festival on Saturday, state-run broadcaster MRTV reported, though it was unclear whether anti-coup protesters where among those set free.
The junta claimed the first detainees were released in the morning, with more to follow later in the day, according to MRTV.
Myanmar celebrates its Buddhist New Year holiday Thingyan in mid-April, although this year’s festivities have been stained by the bloodshed and mass arrests following in the wake of a military coup.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the prisoners granted release included opponents of the coup staged by the military on February 1.
The ousting and imprisonment of members of Myanmar’s civilian government triggered mass nationwide protests, with security forces responding by using increasingly violent tactics.
It is impossible to independently verify the number of people killed or imprisoned due to the military’s crackdown on journalists.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group estimates at least 728 people have been killed since the coup and, as of Friday, more than 3,000 junta opponents were in prison.
On Saturday, people kept up demonstrations against the military regime in several regions, including the largest city of Yangon.
The Irrawaddy newspaper reported at least two people died during protests Saturday morning in the town of Mogoke, north of Mandalay, after forces opened fire on civilians. Other people were reportedly hit by gunfire.
Bangkok
Myanmar’s military granted amnesty to more than 23,000 prisoners as the country began marking it traditional New Year festival on Saturday, state-run broadcaster MRTV reported, though it was unclear whether anti-coup protesters where among those set free.
The junta claimed the first detainees were released in the morning, with more to follow later in the day, according to MRTV.
Myanmar celebrates its Buddhist New Year holiday Thingyan in mid-April, although this year’s festivities have been stained by the bloodshed and mass arrests following in the wake of a military coup.
It was not immediately clear whether any of the prisoners granted release included opponents of the coup staged by the military on February 1.
The ousting and imprisonment of members of Myanmar’s civilian government triggered mass nationwide protests, with security forces responding by using increasingly violent tactics.
It is impossible to independently verify the number of people killed or imprisoned due to the military’s crackdown on journalists.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group estimates at least 728 people have been killed since the coup and, as of Friday, more than 3,000 junta opponents were in prison.
On Saturday, people kept up demonstrations against the military regime in several regions, including the largest city of Yangon.
The Irrawaddy newspaper reported at least two people died during protests Saturday morning in the town of Mogoke, north of Mandalay, after forces opened fire on civilians. Other people were reportedly hit by gunfire.
