Atleast 62 civilians, who were arrested on suspicion of being associated with theArakan Army (AA), were released on Wednesday under the junta’s amnestyinitiative.

Amongthose released, 12 people hail from Sittwe, 10 from Kyauk Phyu, 17 fromThandwe, 9 from Buthidaung,  2 from Kyauk Taw,  3 from Taungup, 4 from Maungdaw and5 from Ann township of Rakhine State, said a statement issued by Rakhine Statemilitary council.

Theywere freed after the junta closed the pending cases of 72 people suspectingtheir links with various ethnic armed organizations.

“In order to commemorate the holy day of Warso full moon (1-8-2023) and topromote ethnic unity & internal peace, criminal cases of over 60 peoplerelating to the ethnic armed groups (who were prosecuted in various Rakhinecourts) have been closed and they all were released,” said Rakhine Stategovernment in Sittwe.

Someof them faced trials under sections 17(1) and 17(2) of the unlawful associationact and section 505 (a) of State sedition acts.

On1 August, the military council released 7,749 individuals (who were servingsentences in various prisons), many of whose sentences were reduced.

Myanmar’sformer President U Win Myint and State counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were alsogranted amnesty with reduced prison terms.

Similarly,22 members of various ethnic armed groups were also released. No less than, 125foreign nationals also enjoyed the amnesty and they were deported subsequently.