In a gesture marking the Myanmar New Year today (April 17), the Chairman of the State Administrative Council (SAC) has granted amnesty to 13 foreign nationals serving sentences in various prisons and detention centers across the country.

The pardon, issued under Section 401(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, reflects the spirit of humanitarian concern, the fostering of international goodwill, and social compassion in celebration of the New Year. The State Administration Council emphasized that the amnesty is conditional—if any of the released individuals commit another offense, they will be required to serve the remainder of their original sentence in addition to any new penalties. Foreign prisoners would be deported "on bilateral relations and humanitarian grounds".