By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar—

 Myanmarese president Thein Sein has pardoned and released 6,966 prisoners, including 210 foreign prisoners. A statement on Myanmar’s information ministry website said that the prisoners were being released on humanitarian grounds and “in view of national reconciliation”.

Around 155 Chinese loggers, who had been detained just last week, were among those released. Most of them, arrested on suspicion of illegal logging in Kachin State in Northern Myanmar, had been given life sentences. The loggers have been deported back to China following their release, according to U Mong Gwang, a liason officer at the Kachin Independence Organization.

Kachin State borders China’s Yunnan Province and has rich natural resources including jade and wood. Jade and wood are in high demand in China, and Chinese citizens are able to cross the border from Yunnan Province to Kachin State to take advantage of those resources. This has led to resentment in Myanmar and could have been one explanation for the life sentences given to the Chinese loggers.

China is a close economic and political ally of Myanmar. Myanmar’s ties with China are important for its trade, security, and energy programs. Recently, however, there has been tension between the nations due to conflict between Myanmar’s army and a rebel militia that has resulted in the deaths of Chinese citizens living near the China-Myanmar border. China had also protested against the loggers’ prison sentences and called for Myanmar to return them to China.

President Thein Sein was elected in 2010 when military-backed civilian government replaced military rule in Myanmar. During military rule, more than 2,000 journalists, activists and politicians were imprisoned, leading to Western sanctions against Myanmar. Those sanctions were lessened once civilian rule was established. Government reform has led to a series of amnesties in which most political prisoners held in Myanmar have been released.

A general election coming up in November could be one of the underlying reasons for the prisoners’ release. Also, U Bo Kyi of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has pointed out that the prisoners’ release occurred just days before Yanghee Lee, the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, was scheduled to visit. As the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, Yanghee Lee reports on human rights and electoral reform in Myanmar.

It is unclear whether pro-democracy activists were among the prisoners released in Myanmar. Most of the prisoners released in Myanmarese amnesties have been common criminals. There are no official lists of released prisoners, so any names of those released are generally disclosed by the prisoners or their families.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Myanmar Frees 6,966 Prisoners Ahead of Polls – 30 July 2015

New York Times – Myanmar Frees Loggers From China Amid a Broader Amnesty – 30 July 2015

Reuters – Political Prisoners, Chinese Loggers Among Thousands Freed in Myanmar Amnesty – 30 July 2015

The Guardian – Chinese Loggers Among 7,000 Prisoners Released in Burma – 30 July 2015

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights – Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar