Myanmar announces it has pardoned and released 23,000 prisoners

A woman lights a candle while others flash the three-fingered sign of resistance during a candlelight vigil to remember those who died in the military junta’s violent response to anti-coup demonstrations in Yangon, Myanmar (AP)

Myanmar’s junta announced it pardoned and released more than 23,000 prisoners to mark the new year holiday, but it was not immediately clear if they included pro-democracy activists who were detained in the wake of the February coup.

The release was announced on state broadcaster MRTV, which said that the military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing pardoned the 23,047 prisoners, including 137 foreigners who will be deported from Myanmar.