The announcement by Myanmar’s military junta on Wednesday, May 4 of the release of 2,153 prisoners was met with a sense of relief by the families of the released prisoners. However, the oppressive polices of the junta, including the use of sweeping laws to suppress peaceful dissent, remain unchanged.
Section 505A of the Penal Code of Myanmar criminalizes any criticism of the junta, making it punishable by up to three years imprisonment. It has been frequently used by the junta to arrest, convict, and detain political activists who opposed them since the February 2021 coup. The junta’s release of prisoners convicted under section 505A, amongst others, has been based on “humanitarian grounds” and “for the peace of mind of people” ahead of a Buddhist holiday, according to the junta.
There is no clear indication as to how many of the released prisoners are political prisoners, but Amnesty International suggests that the junta’s latest amnesty may be an attempt to gain credibility and deflate international pressure ahead of an important meeting of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, it is important to note that the junta is still refusing to recognize the detentions of its political prisoners as being unlawful, and they continue to use amnesties as tools to gain legitimacy.
Historically, Myanmar has used Buddhist holidays to grant amnesties to prisoners, including political prisoners. However, many monitors have noted that political prisoners make up only a fraction of those released during such amnesties, thereby contradicting the junta’s assertion that their latest amnesty is for “humanitarian” reasons.
The international community and ASEAN foreign ministers should not be lulled into a false sense of confidence by the junta’s latest amnesty, and should instead press for the release of all political prisoners, an end to abuses against the junta’s critics, and the return of Myanmar to civilian democratic rule. The junta must stop using oppressive laws to silence and detain peaceful critics and should respect the rights of its citizens to free speech.
In conclusion, the junta’s release of 2,153 prisoners, including some convicted under oppressive laws, is a step in the right direction. However, the relatively small number of political prisoners released indicates that the junta’s policies and practices remain unchanged. The attention of the international community and ASEAN should remain focused on pressing the junta to respect human rights and restore democracy to the beleaguered country.
<< photo by Ron Lach >>