Ten Arakan State political prisoners released in Thingyan amnesty

By Admin 18 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
18 April 2024, Sittwe

Ten political prisoners in Arakan State’s Sittwe Prison were among thousands pardoned by Myanmar’s military regime on Wednesday in a mass amnesty to mark the Myanmar New Year.

A total of 247 prisoners in Arakan State were released on April 17 and Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Network (RWN), was among 3,339 prisoners pardoned by the junta.

“Daw Nyo Aye was among 10 political prisoners released from Sittwe Prison. Those who were charged on suspicion of having ties to the Arakha Army (AA) were also freed in the junta’s Thingyan amnesty,” said a local man in Sittwe.

A prominent women’s advocate, Daw Nyo Aye was taken from her home by police on August 15 for questioning over an event in Sittwe held two days earlier to celebrate the anniversary of “rice crisis day” in Arakan State. Daw Nyo Aye, charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Sittwe Township Court on March 18.

The prisoners were released on condition that if they commit crimes again, they will continue to serve the remaining sentences of their previous crimes in addition to the new punishment, in accordance with Section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Many civilians in Arakan State have been arrested and imprisoned by the regime for allegedly being associated with AA, and there are still some who have not been released.

“A few political prisoners were among those pardoned by the regime. As the military regime releases only those who are imprisoned for theft and looting, theft and looting in Arakan State may increase and it may lead to chaos. There are no political prisoners who were imprisoned on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army among those released by the regime,” said a former political prisoner in Arakan State.

DMG continues to investigate the list of political prisoners released from Buthidaung, Kyaukphyu, and Thandwe prisons in Arakan State.