MNHRC Statement: Statement No. 5/2023 on Amnesty on April 17

The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) issued the Statement No. 5/2023 on the 18th of April. It states that the Chairman of the State Administration Council issued Order No. 28/2023on 17 April 2023, under which a total of 3015 prisoners serving sentences in respective prisons, jails and camps have been pardoned under the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 401 (1), in commemoration of the auspicious Myanmar New Year occasion and in the interest of public peace of mind and on compassionate grounds.

Furthermore, the sentences of 98 foreign prisoners from respective prisons and jails have been remitted and they have been deported by Order No. 29/ 2023 and 5 Sri Lankan citizens serving prisons terms have been remitted and deported by Order No. 30/2023 under the Code of Criminal Procedure Section 401 (1) in view of friendly bilateral relations.

This action is a positive step from human rights perspective and as a result, the pardoned persons have the opportunity to be reunited with their families, and the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission is very delighted and happy together with the relevant family members. The Commission hopes that similar positive steps will be continued in future.