It remains unclear whether anti-junta protesters or journalists jailed covering the coup will be among those freed. A prison official told AFP on condition of anonymity that jails across the country will start freeing more than 23,000 people on Saturday. “We will release more than 800 prisoners from Insein prison” in commercial hub Yangon, he added, declining to elaborate. xThe junta has issued nightly arrest warrants on state-run media, targeting celebrities, influencers, journalists and prominent activists with large social media followings. Myanmar’s healthcare workers have been at the forefront of a nationwide civil disobedience movement, refusing to return to work under a military regime.

Source: The Guardian April 17, 2021 05:26 UTC