Military, which has used force to stamp out opposition to its rule, says amnesty is for ‘humanitarian’ reasons.
Myanmar’s generals say they have pardoned more than 2,000 political prisoners to mark Wesak, a major Buddhist holiday.
The military said 2,153 people jailed for “incitement” would be released on “humanitarian grounds”, Myanmar Now reported on Wednesday, citing a statement signed by Military Council Secretary Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe.
The Myanmar military has cracked down on its opponents with lethal force and detained thousands of people since seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February 2021.
Those charged with incitement face as many as three years in prison.
It was not clear when the prisoners would be freed, but relatives gathered outside Yangon’s Insein Prison, where many political prisoners are held, hoping for their release. Wesak Day, which marks Buddha’s birthday, is on Thursday.
The military often announces amnesties during major holidays.
It freed more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the traditional New Year last month, but on that occasion did not specifically say that political prisoners would be among those released.
