Jun 30, 2021 - World

Myanmar government to release 2,300 prisoners

Oriana González

Picture of Myanmar migrants on their knees holding framed pictures of political prisoners and asking for them to be released — Myanmar migrants living in Thailand take part in a rally outside the UN ESCAP building in Bangkok. Photo: Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images

Myanmar's government on Wednesday will begin releasing thousands of prisoners, including activists who participated in the protests against the country's military, AP reports.

The state of play: Officials confirmed that more than 720 prisoners had been released from the Insein Prison, "which for decades has been the main facility for political prisoners," AP writes. Approximately 2,300 prisoners from across the country will be released.

Activists as well as journalists who covered the protests will be released.

What they're saying: Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun said that those released are "those are who took part in the protests but did not take part in the violence, who did not commit crimes and did not lead the riots," per AP.

The big picture: A total of 5,224 people have been held following the Myanmar military's coup in February, according to data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The group says that 883 people have been killed by the military — a figure that authorities in Myanmar dispute, Reuters notes.

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Myanmar government to release 2,300 prisoners

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