Burma’s State Administration Council (SAC) released 22 people from Chin State prisons on Wednesday, joining thousands released nationwide this week.

All of the prisoners in the state were detained for protesting against the military after it overthrew the country’s democratic government nearly nine months ago.

Five of the seven people released in the town of Matupi had to sign a letter pledging to stay in their homes and not meet with other youths. Authorities had arrested them in early April.

According to a local source, six people are still in prison.

In the state capital Hakha 11 were released, in Tedim 3 and in Falam and Kanpetlet 1 each. No one was released from Paletwa.

Last week, authorities in Tedim released a man and on Wednesday a man and a woman who had been detained for about 7 months were finally able to go home, leaving no more political prisoners behind bars.

In Falam, Cung Lian Mang, who was arrested on 16 April, has already arrived home. A woman who was arrested in Kanpetlet on 4 September has also been released.

The mass amnesty came after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations failed to invite Burma Army chief Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing to its annual summit later this month after he reneged on a five-point agreement to end violence against the people and allow for dialogue.

The 10-member bloc will accept only one non-political representative from Burma.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 7,190 people have been arrested, charged or convicted since the 1 February coup.

The regime has convicted 317 people and 1,181 have been killed.