Myanmar's Military Grants Mass Pardon to Over 10,000 Prisoners
Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has issued a sweeping pardon for more than 10,000 prisoners on Peasants' Day, a national holiday honouring farmers. The amnesty comes as newly elected lawmakers prepare to convene for the first time in over five years, with the move widely interpreted as an attempt to project an image of normalcy and authority amidst the country's ongoing political turmoil.
No Release for Aung San Suu Kyi Amid Emotional Reunions
There was no indication that Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was ousted and imprisoned following the 2021 military coup, would be among those freed. The 79-year-old civilian leader has been held virtually incommunicado for the past five years, with her son expressing serious concerns about her health and wellbeing. Ms Suu Kyi has been convicted on multiple charges in closed trials, receiving a sentence of 27 years in prison in one case.
Emotional scenes unfolded outside prisons as family members embraced returning relatives after years of separation, with many breaking down in tears and raising their hands in celebration. The prisoner releases began on Monday but are expected to take several days to complete, with the identities of those released not immediately available.
Foreigners Among Those Released and Deported
The mass pardon includes 10 foreigners who will be released and subsequently deported from the country. According to state-run MRTV, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing pardoned 10,162 prisoners in total. Among those freed are 7,337 individuals convicted under a counterterrorism law that carries a potential death penalty. This legislation has been widely used to arrest and imprison political opponents, journalists, and others involved in dissent following the 2021 army takeover.
A separate statement indicated that 12,487 people who were either being prosecuted under that law or were in hiding would receive amnesty and have their incitement cases closed.
Political Prisoners Frequently Excluded from Mass Pardons
While mass pardons are often granted on significant national occasions in Myanmar, political prisoners—including senior figures from the ousted civilian government—are frequently excluded from such amnesties. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organisation that maintains detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation's political conflicts, more than 22,800 political detainees remained in detention as of last Friday.
Ms Suu Kyi's son, Kim Aris, has previously expressed grave concerns about his mother's condition, stating she "could be dead already" after years of isolation and an information blackout under military detention. He has challenged the military's claims about her health, demanding independent verification through photographs, medical assessments, or access by family, doctors, or international observers.
Elections and Political Context
The junta recently held elections that were widely condemned by opposition groups, the United Nations, and Western governments as a sham designed to entrench military rule. Despite these criticisms, the military insisted the election would return power to the people and help end the civil war. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party emerged as the winner, though voting did not take place in large areas held by rebel groups.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has not ruled out becoming president, with the new parliament set to convene in two weeks and a president due to be elected in early April. The prisoner releases appear timed to coincide with these political developments, though they have done little to address international concerns about Myanmar's human rights situation.
