More than 130 people were freed by the military council under the amnestyinitiative from four prisons in Rakhine State, but no political prisoner isincluded in the group until Tuesday evening.

Among those released, there were 33 individuals from Sittweprison, 49 from Buthidaung prison, one from Thando prison and around 50 fromKyauk Phyu prison.

Among them, one person was sentenced for responding to the media outlet, butthe rest are civilians who committed some crimes.

Ko Tin Tun Aung (38 years old) from Paletwa locality in Chin State was arrestedfor informing a news agency that the army hoisted a white flag at the battalion(number 289) compound in Paletwa township.

U Myat Tun, director of Rakhine human rights defenders group, told NarinjaraNews that he was sentenced to three years in prison under section 505(a) ofdefamation of the State.

"In Sittwe prison, there are around 30 political prisoners who weresentenced under the unlawful association act 17(1) and defamation of the Stateact 505 (a). But only one of them was freed. So it can not be termed as anamnesty. I would like to tell them that the junta failed to perform as declaredearlier,” he added.

The authorities claimed that one member of Arakan Army (AA) was also released,but AA spokesperson Khaing Thakha revealed that released U Aung Naing Myint isnot their recognised member.

There are over 100 AA members and civilians associated withthe group are inside the prisons of Rakhine State, he asserted.

On the full moon day, the military council released 7,749prisoners, who were serving sentences in various prisons.

Former president U Win Myint and State counselor Daw AungSan Suu Kyi were also given benefits of reducing prison terms, however theywere not pardoned.

The military council announced that 125 foreign prisonerswere also released and they were deported accordingly.