Myanmar to release 5,600 prisoners held for anti-junta protests

It follows the junta’s announcement Monday that it would free more than 5,600 people arrested for protesting against military rule since a In response, Min Aung Hlaing blamed Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government and various ethnic armed groups for the ongoing violence, and said ASEAN should have targeted them instead of the junta. “More violence happened due to the provocations of terrorist groups,” Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech Monday. “No one cares about their violence and is only demanding we solve the issue. ASEAN should work on that.” The comments, made on state television, are Min Aung Hlaing’s first remarks since ASEAN’s announcement.Shortly afterward, AAPP said the junta’s decision to release prisoners was “not coincidental,” and was merely “a form of distraction for the foreign governments” in the wake of the ASEAN decision.”The junta will continue to refuse being transparent about the individual persons released, and who remains detained,” AAPP said in a statement. “The released ‘demonstrators’ were practicing the fundamental right to free assembly against an illegitimate coup attempt.”The organization called for the junta to release all political prisoners, including deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who faces a raft of charges and has been under house arrest since February.UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews welcomed the release of some prisoners but said it was “outrageous” they had been detained in the first place.”The junta is releasing political prisoners in Myanmar not because of a change of heart, but because of pressure,” he said in a statement posted to Twitter.Min Aung Hlaing declared himself Prime Minister of a newly formed caretaker government in August, promising to hold new elections within two years and work with a special envoy named by ASEAN.Wayne Chang, Cape Diamond and Hannah Ritchie contributed to this report. Additional reporting by Reuters.