"Order reduces sentences for 3,085 people and drops charges against another 5,580 people still at large. Myanmar's military rulers have pardoned or dropped charges against 8,665 people locked up for opposing the army rule as the country prepares for next month's elections, according to state media. The announcement on Thursday paves the way for prisoners to vote in upcoming polls that human rights groups have criticised as a sham process."
"The order includes the reduction of sentences for 3,085 people convicted for comments that could cause fear or spread fake news. Charges against another 5,580 people still at large have also been dropped. It was not immediately clear how many of those covered are political detainees, or when the releases would occur. Speaking on Wednesday before the amnesty was formally announced, Myanmar military government spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said the measures were designed to help all eligible voters cast their ballots freely and fairly"
"An official from Yangon's Insein Prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to release information, told The Associated Press news agency on Thursday that prisoner releases would immediately begin, but he did not provide the numbers and names of inmates to be freed. In some past amnesties, releases have taken several days. Outside of Insein Prison, which for decades has served as the main place of detention for political prisoners,"
Myanmar's military pardoned or dropped charges for 8,665 people and reduced sentences for 3,085, including those convicted for comments deemed to cause fear or spread fake news. Charges were dropped for 5,580 people who remain at large. The timing and number of political detainees affected remain unclear, and no full list or release dates were immediately provided. A military spokesperson said the measures aim to allow eligible voters to cast ballots freely and fairly on December 28. Insein Prison officials indicated releases would begin immediately, while questions remain over whether high-profile detainees such as Aung San Suu Kyi will be included.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]