Myanmar's military junta has initiated its most substantial release of political prisoners in years, a move occurring just weeks before a disputed series of phased elections. Among the hundreds freed on November 27 was Kyi Toe, a prominent figure and former information committee chief for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. He had been imprisoned since the military's 2021 coup, which overthrew Ms. Suu Kyi's democratically elected government.
Significant Amnesty Precedes Disputed Elections
The mass amnesty, announced on November 26, is set to pardon 3,085 individuals who were prosecuted under stringent post-coup laws, primarily targeting free speech. While the full scope of releases remains uncertain due to potential additional convictions, AFP reporters witnessed approximately 200 prisoners gaining freedom from Yangon's Insein Prison. Emotional reunions unfolded as families, some holding placards with loved ones' names, embraced those emerging from white minibuses.
A Key Aide's Release and Lingering Questions
Kyi Toe, upon his release, chose to largely steer clear of political commentary but affirmed his commitment "to be strong to work together" with Aung San Suu Kyi, who herself remains under military detention in Naypyidaw. The NLD, which secured a landslide victory in the 2020 elections, has been dissolved by the junta and barred from participating in the upcoming polls, scheduled to commence on December 28 and expected to last about a month.
Elections Dismissed as a "Fig Leaf"
This pre-election amnesty, though a rare reversal in political prosecutions, comes amidst widespread skepticism. Both human rights organizations and a UN expert have dismissed the elections as a mere "fig leaf" designed to legitimize ongoing military rule. Many of those released had been jailed under penal code amendments criminalizing comments that "cause fear" or spread "false news," charges frequently criticized by media freedom advocates as tools to suppress dissent.
Contradictory Actions by the Junta
The military government, however, asserts that these releases aim to ensure "every eligible person" can "freely and fairly cast a vote." Yet, this claim is contradicted by the junta's simultaneous introduction of new legislation that threatens up to a decade in prison for any criticism or protest against the upcoming election. A father in Yangon, whose daughter was freed after being arrested for social media activism, expressed a common sentiment: "I don’t think such releases should be related to the election. Every political prisoner should be released." According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group, over 22,000 individuals are still detained by the junta, highlighting the continuing scale of political incarceration in Myanmar.