Jailed Chinese loggers among thousands freed in Myanmar amnesty: Officials

Yangon, July 30

Myanmar released 6,966 prisoners in an amnesty on Thursday that included 155 Chinese citizens jailed last week for illegal logging, government and prison sources said.

The release of the Chinese could help to placate Myanmar’s influential neighbour China, which lodged a diplomatic protest and expressed “extreme” concern about the verdict against its citizens, 153 of whom were given life sentences.

They were among 210 foreigners included in the amnesty, prison and Home Ministry officials told Reuters, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media. — Reuters