Hundreds of inmates walked free after the junta announced annual independence day pardons, just a week after the start of an election that international monitors have denounced as sham. The military grabbed power in a 2021 coup that triggered civil war, pitting pro-democracy rebels against junta forces, with thousands of activists since arrested. A dozen buses full of released prisoners exited Yangon’s Insein prison yesterday morning, with some waving to crowds of well-wishers. In total, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing pardoned 6,134 imprisoned Myanmar nationals, the National Defence and Security Council said, adding 52 foreign prisoners would also be released and deported. The junta has said turnout in the first phase exceeded 50% of eligible voters, below the 2020 participation rate of around 70%.

Source: The Star January 05, 2026 05:26 UTC