Families gathered with joy as relatives were released from Insein Prison on Thursday following a mass amnesty granted by Myanmar’s military rulers ahead of the December 28 elections.
At least eight buses carried prisoners to the prison gates in Yangon, where friends and family had waited since early morning to welcome them back after long incarcerations.
The military administration granted amnesty to over 3,000 prisoners convicted under Myanmar’s incitement law and dropped charges against more than 5,500 others, allowing eligible voters to participate in the upcoming elections.
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An Insein Prison official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the releases began Thursday but did not specify the number of prisoners or their identities. Historically, such amnesties have taken several days to complete.
There was no indication that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained since the 2021 military takeover, would be among those released. Senior NLD members still remain behind bars.
Critics argue that Myanmar’s elections may not be free or fair due to restrictions on free media and the continued detention of most former NLD leaders. Conditional release applies to 724 prisoners, while 5,580 ongoing cases were closed.