Over 100 Rakhine people freed by military council, but no political prisoner included

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

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

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

Ko Tin Tun Aung (38 years old) from Paletwa locality in Chin State was arrested for 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 Narinjara News that he was sentenced to three years in prison under section 505(a) of defamation of the State.

"In Sittwe prison, there are around 30 political prisoners who were sentenced under the unlawful association act 17(1) and defamation of the State act 505 (a). But only one of them was freed. So it can not be termed as an amnesty. I would like to tell them that the junta failed to perform as declared earlier,” 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 is not their recognised member.

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

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

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

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