In connection with the military regime’s recent mass amnesty across the country, 13 political prisoners were reportedly released in Lashio in northern Shan State on 3 May, the day of the Full Moon Day of Kasong, also known as Buddha Day.

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“Two women and eleven male political prisoners were released from Lashio prison this morning. They had all been sentenced under Article 505,” a lawyer told SHAN on condition of anonymity. The lawyer said regular prisoners were also released, but he didn’t know the numbers.

Last Wednesday, a total of 2,153 prisoners were reportedly released across the country, including from Taung Lay Lon prison in Nyaung Shwe Township in southern Shan State. However, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said that only 1,277 prisoners were freed and only 96 of them were jailed for political offences.

A man whose younger brother was convicted of sedition under Article 505 (a) of Burma’s Penal Code said prison authorities in Taung Lay Lon started letting people leave at 10am, although he couldn’t say how many other political prisoners were freed on that day.

Some prisoners of conscience were also released in Tachileik and Kengtung, but SHAN couldn’t say how many at press time.

On Burmese New Year Day (17 April), the military regime reportedly released 3,015 prisoners and 98 foreign prisoners nationwide.