The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar has refuted junta claims that around 600 political prisoners were released during the Independence Day amnesty.
The junta released 5,864 prisoners on Saturday, of which around 340 were political prisoners jailed for sedition under the Penal Code.
The group said it monitored over 40 prisons and could confirm 208 male and 131 female political prisoners were released.
Ko Thaik Tun Oo of the network said: “There is a big gap between the actual releases and the claims. The junta is trying to deceive people domestically and internationally for political gain.”
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners agreed that around 340 political prisoners were released, adding that at least 21,452 dissidents remained behind bars, including 79-year-old State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Twenty-six former political prisoners issued a joint statement on Monday, condemning the regime for exploiting prisoners of conscience and their families for political gains.
Last year the junta released more than 9,000 prisoners to mark independence but only around 100 of them were political prisoners.
