To mark the anniversary Myanmar’s army marched through the capital Naypyidaw in a show of force
The junta in Myanmar announced today the release of more than 7,000 prisoners on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the country’s independence from Britain.
To mark the anniversary the Myanmar army marched through the capital Naypyidaw in a show of force. At dawn, tanks, rocket launchers and armored vehicles rolled through the streets of the city. Civil servants and students followed the marching soldiers, accompanied by a military band, while 750 “peace” doves were released, state media reported.
A little later, the junta announced that it would release 7,012 prisoners, without, however, clarifying whether the amnesty would also concern those arrested in the context of the repression of dissidents after the February 2021 coup.
“A total of 7,012 prisoners will be pardoned to mark the 75th anniversary of independence day,” junta spokesman Zhao Min Tun said.
When asked if the country’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to 33 years in prison, would be placed under house arrest as part of the announcement, Zhao Min Tun did not respond.
In a speech to the military, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing accused unnamed countries of “interfering in Myanmar’s internal affairs”.
He also indicated that the military would meet with political parties to discuss “the proportional electoral system,” without elaborating further.
The junta is preparing to hold elections, due to be held later this year, which the US has called a “fraud”.
According to experts, the junta may abandon the simple majority electoral system that saw Aung San Suu Kyi’s party sweep the 2015 and 2020 elections.
The military had justified its coup by claiming to have detected millions of falsified votes in the 2020 elections, which international observers had described as broadly free.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close associate of the junta to which he also supplies weapons, sent “his sincere greetings” and predicted “the future development” of bilateral relations.
Protest
Since the coup, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos, with local militias taking up arms against the army.
A former British colony, Myanmar declared its independence on January 4, 1948 after a long struggle under General Aung San, father of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Until the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s independence day was celebrated with many gatherings in parks and public spaces. But after the 2021 coup, celebrations were curtailed, with citizens staying at home in protest against the junta.
AFP correspondents observed increased security measures in Yangon, the country’s commercial center where a series of bomb attacks have occurred in recent months.
The US embassy warned today of “a possible increase in attacks, targeted fire or explosions”.
On the occasion of the anniversary the junta gave medals and awards to supporters, including Asin Uirathu, an extremist Buddhist monk known for his role in inciting religious hatred in the country, mainly against the Rohingya Muslim minority.
Asin Uirathu, whom the American magazine Time has described as a “Buddhist Bin Laden” after the bloody inter-communal clashes, received an honorary title on Tuesday for “his outstanding work for the good of the Union of Myanmar”.
After being imprisoned by Aung San Suu Kyi’s government for “separatist speech”, Asin Wirathu was released by the junta, which dropped all charges against him.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
