More than 200 political prisoners were among the 7,012 inmates freed in this week’s Independence Day amnesty, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Insein Prison staff in Yangon on April 17, 2022, prepare to release prisoners. / AFP

The junta also detained at least 22 people on political charges on Wednesday, including prisoners who had just been released, the AAPP said.

Some political prisoners released from Insein Prison in Yangon told The Irrawaddy that other inmates were seized outside the prison.

“The police stopped our bus and detained two young men as we left the prison. I don’t know their names but they were charged with 505(a) [incitement]. I heard about others being rearrested,” said a 41-year-old political prisoner who was released on Wednesday.

Released prisoners told The Irrawaddy that the freed political prisoners had served nearly their whole terms.

（Source：The Irrawaddy  By HEIN HTOO ZAN 6 January 2023）