98 foreigners among over 3,100 prisoners freed by Myanmar junta

ISTANBUL

At least 98 foreigners were among around 3,113 prisoners released by the military junta in Myanmar on Monday.

The latest amnesty of prisoners came on the traditional New Year's Day in the Southeast Asian nation.

Junta called the release a step intended “to bring peace of mind” and said it was carried out “in consideration of humanitarian concerns,” Myanmar Now news website reported, citing a statement by Myanmar military council secretary Lt. Gen. Aung Lin Dwe.

Junta, however, did not reveal whether or not political prisoners and dissidents are part of the fresh amnesty.

Citing data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the report added: “At least 17,460 people remain in the junta’s prisons and at least 3,240 have been killed by the regime’s forces during the post-coup period.”

The Myanmar military, locally known as Tatmadaw, launched a coup in February 2021 to uproot the National League for Democracy (NLD) government and install a junta regime.

​​​​​​​The NLD has since been disbanded.