Myanmar military government pardons thousands of prisoners – JURIST

The state-run Myanmar Radio and Television service reported on Sunday that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military government, officially pardoned 6,134 prisoners, as well as at least 52 foreigners. Other prisoners received reduced sentences.

The pardons marked the 78th anniversary of Myanmar’s independence from Britain, gained on January 4, 1948. The act was described as a measure toward “pacifying the hearts and minds of the people and respecting humanity.” The military government indicated a desire to “maintain friendly relations between countries and respect humanitarian considerations.”

Major General Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson for the military government, told journalists that approximately 600 of those released had been imprisoned under Section 505 of Myanmar’s Penal Code. The section criminalizes any comments that may cause “fear or alarm to the public” or incite offenses against the state or “public tranquility.”

Zaw Min Tun also stated that majority of the foreigners to be freed are Thais who were arrested for gambling, along with some Indonesians who were arrested in Myanmar’s territorial waters.

It is unclear whether 80-year-old former leader Aung San Suu Kyi is among those pardoned. Her supporters say that she was convicted in “politically tinged prosecutions.”

The Myanmar government customarily releases prisoners to commemorate holidays and other significant occasions. All pardons come with a warning that if the freed detainees violate the law again, they will be required to serve the time remaining on their original sentences as well as any new sentences.

The pardons come amid ongoing turmoil in the country, which first erupted in early 2021. The military at that time overthrew an elected civilian government and engaged in violent suppression of pro-democracy protests, leading to a nationwide armed rebellion.

General Soe Win, deputy prime minister, delivered a speech at the Independence Day celebration, calling on armed rebels to “put down their weapons” and “resolve the political issue through peaceful means.”

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) continue to observe the situation, and are especially concerned about the military government’s current elections. Elaine Pearson, Asia director for HRW, summarized the issues, saying:

The Myanmar junta’s sham elections are a desperate bid for international legitimacy after nearly five years of brutal military repression. Governments lending any credibility to these polls would signal a complete lack of support for rights-respecting civilian democratic rule in Myanmar.

Speaking on Myanmar’s Independence Day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “We urge the military regime to cease violence, ensure unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, release those unjustly detained, and engage in dialogue to pursue a peaceful and long-term end to the crisis.”