Myanmar’s military government pardons 10,000 prisoners before parliament opens

Key Highlights

• State-run MRTV television reported that Senior Gen.
• Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, pardoned 10,162 prisoners, including 7,337 convicted under a counterterrorism law, on Peasants’ Day, a national holiday honouring farmers.
• A separate statement said 12,487 people who were either being prosecuted under that law or were in hiding will receive amnesty and have their incitement cases closed.
• The law carries a potential death penalty and was widely used to arrest and imprison political opponents, journalists, and others involved in dissent since the 2021 army takeover.
• Ten foreigners will also be released and deported from Myanmar, it said in a separate statement.