Burma’s regime has reportedly freed 86 prisoners from Kachin State as part of an amnesty during the Southeast Asian country’s 102th National Day.
The junta leadership has claimed it released 5,779 prisoners (5,098 men, 676 women) from across the country on 17 November. According to reliable sources, 71 prisoners were released from Myitkyina Prison, the capital of Kachin State, and 15 from Mazup Yang Prison in Hpakant Township.
Of the 15 prisoners released from Hpakant, 11 were political prisoners, but 3 others remain behind bars, a local man close to one of their families told KNG on condition of anonymity. A man from Myitkyina, who also requested anonymity, said of the 71 prisoners, 7 were prisoners of conscience.
At press time, KNG could not say whether political prisoners or ordinary inmates were released from Bhamo and Mohnyin prisons, the other two penitentiaries in the state.
The regime’s armed forces have arrested 16,248 political prisoners and 12,976 have been detained as of 17 November, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. During this period, the junta has announced three mass amnesties.
