More than a quarter of Myanmar's prison population is being released, the president's office announced Friday, after calls grew to ease pressure on overcrowded jails with coronavirus fears gripping the country.
More than a quarter of Myanmar’s prison population is being released, the president’s office announced Friday, after calls grew to ease pressure on overcrowded jails with coronavirus fears gripping the country.The Southeast Asian nation grants an annual amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark its April New Year holiday, but this is the largest recorded in recent years.
“To mark Myanmar New Year, by respecting humanitarian ground and peace in mind of the people, the president pardons altogether 24,896 prisoners from various prisons,” a statement Friday from the president’s office said. As buses brought the newly-released through the prison gates, cheers erupted with people waving flowers and reaching to grasp the hands of relatives leaning out of the bus windows.“I’m not even thinking about coronavirus. I just really want to see my son.”
The country is under a nationwide lockdown and there had been growing pressure to release inmates from what Human Rights Watch branded “horribly overcrowded and unsanitary” jails.By Friday afternoon the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said it only had confirmation of the release of 12 of 76 prisoners of conscience, but the group was holding out hope for the others.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Malaysia turns back Rohingya boat over virus fears
Read more »
DOJ to release vulnerable prisoners to save them from COVID-19Even without the revised uniform manual on the expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, the Department of Justice (DOJ) assured on Friday, April 17, it will proceed with the release of selected persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are “vulnerable” to the deadly 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Read more »
Supreme Court asks BJMP to comment in 5 days on plea to release some prisoners amid COVID-19 pandemicThe Supreme Court has asked the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to provide inputs on the petition to temporarily release prisoners who have high risk of contracting COVID-19, sources say.
Read more »
Workers feel betrayed by DOLE’s decision to suspend cash aid amid COVID-19 fearsThe Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said millions of displaced workers felt betrayed after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) abruptly suspended its cash assistance scheme, the Covid Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).
Read more »
Malaysia turns back Rohingya boat over virus fearsMalaysian sailors gave the Rohingya food before escorting them out of the country's waters, the air force says. coronavirus
Read more »
Brazil health minister sacked amid virus crisisHealth Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta favors isolation as a tool to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the threat of which Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly claims is overblown.
Read more »