Myanmar releases celebrities jailed for anti-military views, issues pardons
- They were arrested for supporting the protest movement against last year’s military coup, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi
- Prominent film industry figures include Lu Min, Wyne, Pyay Ti Oo, his wife Eaindra Kyaw Zin, and popular male model and actor Paing Takhon
Several top Myanmar celebrities who were detained for criticising the army’s seizure of power were released from prison Wednesday under pardons issued by the military government, state-run television reported.
The celebrities released from Insein Prison in Yangon include prominent film industry figures Lu Min, Wyne, Pyay Ti Oo, his wife Eaindra Kyaw Zin, and popular male model and actor Paing Takhon, MRTV reported.
All had been arrested for supporting the protest movement against last year’s seizure of power by the military, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. They had been charged with incitement, which carries a possible three-year prison sentence, for encouraging government employees to join the protests.
The TV report said the reason for their release was so they could participate in nation-building through their work in the arts.
The report also said that Win Min Than, a popular blogger on beauty and fashion, received a pardon for her conviction for incitement but remained detained because she was also convicted of unlawful association.
A Malaysian who was convicted and imprisoned on drug charges in 2019 was also given a pardon on Wednesday for what was described as humanitarian reasons.