Senior Lieutenant General Min Aung Hlaing thanked supporters during his speech to mark the 75th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence.
Myanmar’s military government will release 7,012 prisoners under an amnesty to mark the country’s independence day, state broadcaster MRTV reported on Wednesday, as the head of government commended some nation has maintained support for his country.
The Southeast Asian nation has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military usurped power from a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung. Sang Suu Kyi led nearly two years ago.
“I would like to say thank you to a number of countries and regions as well as organizations and individuals who have actively cooperated with us… amid all the pressure, criticism and attacks,” said Senior Lieutenant General Min Aung. Hlaing said in a speech marking Myanmar’s anniversary. 75 days of independence.
“We are working closely with neighboring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development,” Min Aung Hlaing said in a statement. speech at a parade in the capital Naypyitaw. waving civil servants, marching soldiers, tanks and military jets.
Myanmar has descended into chaos since the military took power from Suu Kyi’s government on February 1, 2021, detaining her and other officials, and responding to protests and dissent. pro-democracy by brutal force, displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
While street protests are rare after bloody crackdowns, the military engages in near-daily clashes with ethnic minority forces and insecurity has spread. spread to many parts of the country as members of the so-called People’s Self-Defense Forces took up arms to fight back for power. to democracy.
Meanwhile, Suu Kyi was recently convicted of five corruption charges and jailed for a further seven years, ending a series of trials internationally condemned as a hoax designed to thwart ties. junta’s biggest threat in the context of widespread domestic resistance to the government’s rule.
Suu Kyi is being held in solitary confinement in a prison in Naypyitaw and the military insists she has received proceedings by an independent court.
Authorities often release some prisoners to mark the day Myanmar declared its independence from British rule.
MRTV said the latest amnesty will not cover people convicted of murder and rape, or jailed for offenses related to explosives, illegal association, weapons, drugs, management. disasters and corruption.
It is not yet clear whether any political prisoners will be released.
The United States, the European Union and countries such as the UK and Canada, have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military and individuals believed to have helped the junta come to power.
In another rebuke, the United Nations Security Council last month adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, demanding an end to violence and the junta’s release of all those involved in the conflict. political detention.
Referring to international pressure, Min Aung Hlaing criticized what he called “obstruction from countries and organizations that want to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.”
However, the administration has maintained some international support. The United Nations Security Council remains divided over how to handle the Myanmar crisis, with China and Russia arguing against strong action. They also abstained in a vote last month on a resolution, along with India.
Thailand also held regional talks last month to discuss the crisis, including rare international appearances by government ministers, even as some key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which criticized the government, did not attend.
ASEAN is leading diplomatic peace efforts and Myanmar’s generals have been banned from high-level gatherings of the bloc for failing to honor a promise to start negotiations with government-linked opponents. Suu Kyi’s overthrow.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
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