A total of 343 inmates of Sittwe Prison, including four political prisoners, were released on April 17 in a mass presidential pardon coinciding with the Thingyan holiday.

The release from the Arakan State capital’s penitentiary involved 311 men and 32 women.

Advocates for political prisoners said the four political detainees included one person from Buthidaung Township who had been charged under section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act; one person from Kapaing Chaung village in Pauktaw Township; and two people from Yoe Tayote town.

One of the political prisoners released from Sittwe Prison, Ko Naing Naing, said the government should be held accountable and take responsibility for the loss of civilian lives in Arakan State.

“I am quite sad that the public is being attacked. They don’t bear any arms but they lose their lives. Their houses aren’t military camps but are being destroyed,” he said. “The government should take responsibility for that.”

The President Office released a statement saying in total 24,896 prisoners had been released from penitentiaries across Myanmar under the Thingyan presidential pardon.

President U Win Myint also commuted death sentences to life imprisonment with no release; reduced life sentences to 40 years; cut sentences of more than 40 years to only 40 years; and reduced sentences of less than 40 years by a quarter of their original term.