Myanmar Military Junta Releases 1,600 Prisoners Except Political Detainees for New Year

"Criticism of Military Regime's Use of Political Prisoners as Hostages"

Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's military supreme commander who has been in power for over a year following a coup, salutes at the 77th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces held on the 27th of last month in the capital, Naypyidaw. (Image source=AFP Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The military junta in Myanmar reportedly released about 1,600 inmates on the 17th, marking the traditional New Year, Thingyan. Political prisoners and protesters who opposed the military were reportedly excluded from the release, prompting criticism from the international community.

According to AFP, the state-run TV reported that 1,619 inmates, including 42 foreigners, would be pardoned and released to celebrate the traditional New Year. The military government, about two months after the coup, released about 23,000 inmates during last year's traditional New Year but excluded political prisoners. A man released from Insein Prison on the outskirts of Yangon told AFP, "Those imprisoned for political reasons and protesters were not released," adding that only common criminals were subject to release.

AFP also reported that prison officials confirmed that about 160 inmates, including six women, were released from Insein Prison but did not provide specific details. Because of this, many citizens who had been waiting in front of the prison for their relatives' release left the scene in the afternoon. Ai Min, whose 19-year-old daughter was charged as a political prisoner and sentenced to three years, expressed hope for her daughter's release, saying, "My daughter has been locked up in prison for over a year."

It has not been confirmed whether Sean Turnell, an Australian who served as the economic advisor to State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and is currently under house arrest, is among the 42 foreigners mentioned by state TV as being released. Turnell has led the economic policy think tank 'Myanmar Development Institute' and served as Suu Kyi's chief economic advisor for years. He was arrested immediately after the coup and charged with violating the Official Secrets Act and is currently detained. Recently, speculation arose that he might be released after it was revealed that the outgoing Australian ambassador to Myanmar met with Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader and Commander-in-Chief.

Regarding the exclusion of political prisoners from the release, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a human rights organization, criticized the military junta to Reuters, saying, "The military government is using political prisoners as hostages."

The Myanmar military has claimed that the November 2020 general election, won by the civilian government, was fraudulent and staged a coup on February 1 last year, violently suppressing anti-military figures. The United Nations (UN) and human rights organizations estimate that over 1,700 people have died and about 13,000 have been arrested or detained so far.