Myanmar releases 23 184 prisoners for New Year
MYANMAR’S junta released 23,184 prisoners from jails across the country on yesterday, under a New Year amnesty, a Prisons Department spokesman said, though few if any democracy activists arrested since a February 1 coup were thought to be among them. Saturday is the first day of the traditional New Year in Myanmar and the last day of a five-day holiday that is usually celebrated with visits to Buddhist temples and rowdy water throwing and partying in the streets. Pro-democracy activists called for the cancellation of the festivities this year and instead for people to focus on a campaign to restore…