More than 10,000 war refugees in Pauk need help

More than 15,000 Burmese refugees have fled their villages in southern Pauk Township, Magway Division, since April 6 and 7, when military council troops raided and set fire to their homes.

A local woman in Ye Kyaw village told RFA that she needed help because her house was on fire.

"Currently, there is no refugee camp. We have to carry our pots and pans in the forest valleys. The roads are closed and we need food, health and medicine. Many people are living in the hot sun. It is very difficult. It will rain now."

On April 6 and 7, more than 250 houses were destroyed in the blaze, which engulfed the village twice.

Locals say tens of thousands of people from more than a dozen villages, including Nyaung Wun North, are now fleeing to the mountains.

Kyauk O village was set on fire twice on April 11 and 14 by more than 200 houses, forcing more than 1,000 people to flee, according to locals.

A local resident told RFA that the fire broke out shortly after a clash between local militia and military council troops near the village.

"The pottery is the main problem. The tents were set on fire. The whole village was destroyed."

Refugees say villages such as Thekkedin have been set on fire and all locals are fleeing.

RFA has not been able to independently confirm locals' claims that the villages have been set on fire.

General Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for the military council, has always denied any wrongdoing on RFA when asked by RFA.

According to Data For Myanmar, an independent research organization, from April 1, 2021 to April 13, 2022, 9,187 homes were destroyed across the country, including 1,814 in Magway Division.

Military Council releases more than 1,600 non-political prisoners

Today, April 17, the first day of the Burmese New Year, the military council released more than 1,600 prisoners.

Prisoners from all over the country; A total of 1,619 prisoners, including 1,577 prisoners and 42 foreigners, have been released.

"If they do not release you, they will have no intention of letting you go. "

On the morning of the announcement, family members were waiting in front of Rangoon's Insein Central Prison, including Daw Myint Myint Swe, the mother of a man arrested under Section 505 (a).

"I hope my son will be released. I rarely have this little boy. I want them to be free. I also feel sorry for his education. The final year student is about to graduate. I want to be released. It is true that we want all politicians to be released. "My son is not alone."

Myint Myint Swe's son, a final-year university student, was arrested during a protest against the military dictatorship.

After the military coup, some were arrested for participating in the non-violent anti-government movement (CDM) in the military council.

Daw Kyu Kyu, the mother of a CDM police officer, was also waiting for her son to be released.

"Aunty wants to release her son. I want to be released. I came here with the hope of being released. We want the 505 (a) workers to be released as soon as possible. I want more. I want the others to be released. Because my son is there too. The whole country is our children. "I want the children to be released as soon as possible."

Today, however, amnesties include those who oppose anti-military councils, which are often prosecuted under Section 505 of the Penal Code. An official from the Department of Prisons, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said most cases involved immigration.

"We only have a consolidated list," he said. The total is 1577. I was a citizen in 1577. Forty-two are foreigners. They will continue with the foreign procedure. Q: The articles are in pairs. There are also drugs. It also includes cases of immigration. ”

This afternoon, 160 inmates were released from Rangoon's Insein Central Prison and taken out of the back door of the prison by bus.

Mandalay More than 160 prisoners have been released from Obo Prison on parole. A source close to the prison said that included about 30 foreign prisoners, not including political prisoners.

"No political prisoners have been released so far," he said. He is still being released. As far as we know, more than 160 will be released. There are more than 20 foreigners. There will be 30. I want all those who are imprisoned for the revolution to be released. "I am sorry I was not released."

The military council added that those released today would be sentenced to life imprisonment if they committed another crime.

Dawei Prison in Tanintharyi Division An official from the Dawei Political Prisoners Network said only eight prisoners had been released on charges of absconding and drug trafficking.

Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Former Political Prisoners' Group, said the military council usually released political prisoners for political gain.

"He abducted and held political prisoners hostage. If necessary, we will make a deal for political gain. If the pressure is too high, some of the hostages will be released. If they do not release you, we will not let you go. That is not the answer. "The more we do that, the more the pain of the people is at its peak now."

Tun Kyi also criticized the lack of transparency in the release of non-political prisoners in each prison.

On the first day of the new year 2021, the military council granted amnesty to more than 23,000 prisoners.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), 10,238 people were arrested between February 1, 2021 and April 15, 2022, when the military took power, of which 996 have been convicted.

The military council released more than 800 non-political prisoners on February 12 to mark Union Day.

Before that, in October last year, more than 5,600; More than 2,200 were released by the military council in June, including political prisoners and journalists.