As part of thejunta's amnesty to honor the 76th Independence Day, 147 inmates from Buthidaungand Sittwe Prisons in Rakhine State have been freed.

Accordingto a Buthidaung resident who spoke to Narinjara News, 49 prisoners werereleased from Buthidaung Prison at 9 AM on January 4.

"At9 AM, 49 prisoners were released. Among them, there were both Muslims andRakhine. There were no female prisoners," reported the Buthidaung residentto Narinjara News.

Likewise,a resident of Sittwe informed Narinjara News that approximately 98 prisonerswere released from Sittwe Prison around 1:00 PM today.

Eighty male inmates and eighteen female inmates have beenreleased. The majority of them are accused of crimes, the resident stated.

In honor of the 76th Independence Day, the Military Councildeclared early on January 4 that 9,652 convicts and 114 foreign prisoners wouldbe granted amnesty.