YANGON, May 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Myanmar government has warned that there were linkages and incitement behind some riots that occurred in seven prisons in the country over the past two days, vowing that effective investigation will be made to bring out the truth behind these incidents.
According to a press release of the President’s Office issued late Thursday, the riots took place in prisons at townships of Kalay, Hpa-an, Shwebo, Myitgyina, Dawei, Tharyawaddy and Pathein on Wednesday and Thursday, citing dissatisfaction with the current presidential amnesty as an excuse.
“During these riots, the prisoners made demands that are of the same vein and in some cases identical,” the release said, adding that “In some prisons, the prisoners used mobile phones to stream live on social media.”
The release clarified that “the recent presidential pardon was given to prisoners under the policy to provide clemency to prisoners who are aged, in poor health, women, youth and disabled.”
On grounds of humanity and to contribute to the smooth process of the country’s national reconciliation, the government started on April 17 to grant amnesty to prisoners in batches as a gesture to mark Myanmar’s traditional new year, having unconditionally released a total of 23,019 prisoners including 16 foreigners in three batches as of Tuesday.
It was the second occasion that the presidential amnesty was granted after President U Win Myint assumed office on March 2018.
On the first occasion in previous new year day, 8,490 domestic and 51 foreign prisoners were released under the similar unconditional presidential amnesty order. — NNN-XINHUA
