Irrawaddy-Mar 3
Myanmar’s military rulers on Monday released several prominent figures from the elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government they overthrew in 2021, as part of an amnesty for more than 9,000 prisoners. However, democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other NLD leaders remained behind bars as the regime prepares to rebrand in civilian clothing following a widely rejected election. Monday’s amnesty covered 7,337 political prisoners jailed under the Counter-Terrorism Law, used by the regime to criminalize opposition to its takeover. However, only around 4,000 had been released as of Wednesday evening, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which cited tallies from 23 prisons. The junta said it had also dropped cases against 12,487 individuals charged under the same law. The amnesty for political prisoners came just two weeks before the new military-dominated parliament is due to convene on March 16. Several prominent student activists were also released Monday. They included Ma Su Yee Lin, ex-president of the East Yangon University Students’ Union, who was sentenced to 15 years under the Counter-Terrorism Law. She was freed along with her sister, Ma Su Myat Htet, and their aunt, Daw Ni Moe Hlaing, both jailed under the same law. Journalists granted amnesty included Ma Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, a Myanmar Pressphoto Agency (MPA) videographer who was injured and arrested after a military vehicle rammed an anti-coup rally she was covering in Yangon’s Kyimyintai Township in 2021. It also announced the release and deportation of 10 foreigners on Monday. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/no-amnesty-for-myanmars-top-political-prisoner-as-junta-orchestrates-power-transition.html
