At least 551 Muslims, who were released from various prisons inMyanmar by the junta authority under anamnesty on 1 August, have beensentback to their native places in Rakhine State and also Bangladesh.

361 Muslims, including 97 women, were sent back to Maungdaw township and  79 (including 9 women) to Buthidaung township of Rakhine State, where as  111 Bangladeshi nationals are expected to bedeported to their native villages.

They were transported by three speed boats from Sittwe to Buthidaung on 16 August, reported the Rakhinedaily page of Arakan State military council.

A Buthidaung resident informed that the speed boat enteredthe harbor at around 3 pm atButhidaung jetty. Another ferry ship, Aung Takkhon, entered at around 10.00 pm on Wednesday.

He also said that 440 Muslims from Maungdaw and Buthidaungtownships are being examined atthe respective township immigration departments.

"It is known that Muslims fromButhidaung and Maungdaw are being re-checkedat their respective township offices of immigration. They are re-checked in order to send them totheir original places,” he added.

The group of Bangladeshi nationals (with 3 women) will behanded over to their countryofficials and till then they will be temporarily detained in Buthidaung prison.

On the full moon day (1 August) the Myanmar military councilgranted an amnesty to theprisoners, who were serving sentences in various jails. Altogether 7749 prisoners including 551 Muslims werefreed.