On Wednesday, Myanmar freed more than 2,000 detainees that had been held since the coup, which occurred on February 1. The released prisoners include journalists and others that the ruling military had held on incitement charges for their roles in protests. Activists described the release as a ploy by the ruling military to divert attention from an ongoing security crackdown. The army has been pressured by Western countries and its neighbors to release the thousands of protestors. The arrests occurred in the months following the coup when Myanmar saw several deaths as a result of military and law enforcement violence against protestors.
Read More: Myanmar frees more than 2,000 prisoners held since military coup