Some 1,619 prisoners, including 32 of foreign nationality, have been "amnested" and released to mark the Buddhist new year, Burma state television said on Sunday (April 17th), without specifying whether they were only prisoners. of common law or also of political prisoners.
In front of the Insein prison in Rangoon, more than a hundred people were gathered, hoping to see the release of one of their close political prisoners, sometimes simply taking part in anti-junta demonstrations.
However, one of the freed men said no 'political prisoners or protesters are among those freed today'.
And the disappointed families gradually dispersed.
Burma has been experiencing strong tensions since the army ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi from power in February 2021.
The military coup sparked massive protests and a wave of intense repression.
The Southeast Asian country traditionally grants amnesty to thousands of prisoners on the occasion of the Buddhist New Year.
By 2021, 23,000 prisoners had been released.
This event has given rise, in previous years, to great celebrations.
This year, they did not take place, while the repression still rages.
>> To read also: In Burma, the head of the Junta promises to "annihilate" the opponents
With AFP
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