Prisoners who have been granted pardons leave the Insein Prison in Yangon, Myanmar, April 17, 2024. Myanmar's State Administration Council granted amnesty to over 3,000 prisoners on Wednesday, the first day of the traditional Myanmar New Year. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
YANGON, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's State Administration Council granted amnesty to over 3,000 prisoners on Wednesday, the first day of the traditional Myanmar New Year.
Among them were 3,303 Myanmar nationals and 36 foreign prisoners, including 13 Indonesian nationals and 15 Sri Lankan nationals, the council said.
The amnesty is to mark Myanmar's traditional New Year's Day, bringing joy to the people and looking forward to positive relations with respective countries, while addressing humanitarian concerns, it said.
In a separate pardon order, the council reduced the sentences by one sixth for some prisoners jailed across the Southeast Asian country.
It's a customary practice for Myanmar to pardon prisoners annually to celebrate its traditional new year.
Last year, over 3,000 prisoners were released on Myanmar's traditional New Year's Day. ■
Prisoners who have been granted pardons leave the Insein Prison in Yangon, Myanmar, April 17, 2024. Myanmar's State Administration Council granted amnesty to over 3,000 prisoners on Wednesday, the first day of the traditional Myanmar New Year. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)
