Myanmar's Military Pardons Political Prisoners

Myanmar’s military junta announced on Wednesday that it had pardoned over 2,000 political prisoners to mark Wesak, a major Buddhist holiday. The military claims that the 2,153 individuals who were jailed for incitement will be released on humanitarian grounds, according to a statement signed by Military Council Secretary Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe. Those charged with incitement, an offense that makes it illegal to encourage dissent against the military, can face up to three years in prison. The military warned those released that they would be re-arrested if they committed the same offense again.

Since the military coup in February 2021, the Myanmar military has detained thousands of people and cracked down on its opponents with lethal force. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a Myanmar group that tracks detentions since the coup, estimates that almost 18,000 people are still being held. Amnesty International praised the release of political prisoners but stated that it was long overdue and pointed out that thousands more were still in jail. Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns Ming Yu Hah emphasized that anyone imprisoned for peacefully opposing the military coup in Myanmar should never have been jailed, and peaceful dissent is a human right.

The latest amnesty came a day after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Myanmar and held talks with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, becoming the most senior Chinese official to visit the country since the military seized power over two years ago. Chinese state broadcaster CGTN reported that Qin told Min Aung Hlaing that Beijing attached great importance to its friendship with Myanmar and the two men agreed to ‘further promote comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries’. The coup-triggered violence has escalated in recent months, with an armed resistance taking root in many parts of the country and the military resorting to air attacks that have killed civilians, including children.

The relatives of political prisoners gathered outside Yangon’s Insein Prison, where many political prisoners are held, as the amnesty was announced. As buses left the prison gates, they searched for the faces of their loved ones on board, many holding out their hands. Tearful reunions followed. The military often announces amnesty during major holidays, and it freed more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the traditional New Year last month, but it did not specifically state that political prisoners would be among those released on that occasion.