On the first day of Myanmar’s traditional New Year, a high-profile amnesty has freed more than 4,500 incarcerated individuals, including former national president U Win Myint, state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) confirmed in an official announcement on Friday.
The pardon was issued by current Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing, who signed two separate executive orders to authorize the release. According to MRTV’s reporting, 4,335 domestic Myanmar prisoners and 179 foreign nationals held in Myanmar correctional facilities are included in the amnesty, which aligns with long-standing local traditions of marking the annual New Year celebration with acts of clemency.
State media framed the large-scale pardon as a measure aligned with principles of peace and humanitarian values. The initiative is designed to foster social stability across the country, and to give the released individuals an opportunity to rejoin public life and contribute to national development efforts, the outlet added.
The release of U Win Myint marks a notable development in Myanmar’s domestic political landscape, coming as the country observes its most important annual cultural holiday.