On May 3th today, the SAC has announced that 2,153 prisoners who are imprisoned under section 505 (a) in various prisons, will be released after signing a pledge under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as the commemorate of the Kasone full moon day.
According to the family members, some of the family members of those convicted under the 505 (a) are waiting in front of the prisons after hearing that this announcement has been made.
“At around 12:00 pm, we received a call from a person who we are in close contact, and he say that prisoners will be free tomorrow. Now we are going to the front of Thayarwaddy prison. I hope everyone will be released,” said a family member of a person imprisoned under 505.
A family member of Mizzima reporter, Ma Mabel, who was imprisoned to three years under section 505 (a), said that most of the family members are still unknown and they were not informed.
“Today is May’s birthday. Yesterday, we even gave her a birthday cake and a small hand-made toy. They told us nothings that she is to be released today. Now we have to investigate,” her family member said.
Today, May 3rd, is the full moon day of Kasone according to the Burmese calendar, as well as World Press Freedom Day. However, after the military coup in Myanmar in 2021, more than 150 journalists were arrested and imprisoned by the SAC military, and 4 ones were killed, and 13 news stations whose licenses have been suspended.