Myanmar’s junta on Wednesday pardoned and released six celebrities, including acting couple Eaindra Kyaw Zin and Pyay Ti Oo, actor Lu Min and model-actor Paing Takhon, who were arrested for opposing military rule.
The junta announced that the four, who have been detained for nearly a year, will be pardoned “to participate in state-building affairs with their performing arts”.
Their families confirmed the releases.
Eaindra Kyaw Zin, Pyay Ti Oo and Paing Takhon, 24, were arrested in April last year and Lu Min was seized in late February last year for participating in anti-regime protests and supporting the civil disobedience movement against the regime.
They have been held in Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison with thousands of other political prisoners and sentenced to three years in prison in December under incitement charges.
On Wednesday the junta also pardoned beauty blogger Win Min Than, who was jailed on incitement charges. She has been held in Insein since April last year and was given a three-year sentence in December.
The junta’s announcement said Win Min Than still faces a case under the Unlawful Associations Act for joining the anti-regime movement.
Award-winning film director Htun Zaw Win, also known as Wyne, who was arrested last month after returning from hiding to his Yangon home, was also released on Wednesday. The junta said it had dropped the case against him.
Singers Saw Phoe Khwar and Po Po, actor Ye Tike and filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi remain in custody.
More than 9,400 people, including writers, activists, politicians, pro-democracy protesters and student activists, are still being held by the junta.
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