Regime media reported on Wednesday that an amnesty was granted to 3,085 political prisoners, while charges were dropped for over 5,500 other detainees to “ensure that all eligible voters do not lose their right to vote” in the regime’s 2025-26 elections,
An official from Insein Prison, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, confirmed prisoners would be released starting Thursday but did not say how many or who they were. In past amnesties, releases have taken several days.
Among those freed were Kyi Toe, a member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party’s central information committee, and freelance journalist Zaw Lin Htut, also known as Phoe Thar. Both were arrested for opposing the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
“I took care of my health as well as my spirit inside prison. We take care of each other. I continued to commit to work for our people, country and my party,” said Kyi Toe, who was released from Yangon’s Insein Prison after serving more than four years.
Kyi Toe was arrested at his home in Yangon’s Hledan Township in March 2021 and convicted under Section 505-A of the Penal Code, which criminalizes spreading “fake news” and “incitement” against the military. Anyone who violates this law, which was amended by the regime on Feb. 14, 2021, can be sentenced up to three years in prison.
The regime’s amnesty covered more than 700 political prisoners under Section 505-A and reduced charges for over 2,300 others. A total of 165 male and 50 female prisoners were released from Insein Prison on Nov. 27.
Residents of the Ayeyarwady Region capital told DVB that eight political prisoners were released from Pathein Prison on the day of the amnesty.
“The military regime benefits politically by releasing these people who should not be jailed. It uses this section [of the penal code] not politically but for its own personal matters. I was also charged under this section,” Kyi Myint, a prominent lawyer from Myanmar, told DVB.
Regime media reported that charges were dropped for a total of 5,580 prisoners serving sentences for violating Section 505-A.
The regime amnesty came three days after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Myanmar citizens residing in the U.S.
The Trump administration in Washington stated that Myanmar citizens can safely return home with the regime’s 2025-26 elections as “evidence of an improving situation.”
Thaik Tun Oo, the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) spokesperson, told DVB that the amnesty is a “gesture” to gain legitimacy ahead of the regime elections.
“They [military] want international attention on how they are moving forward with good intentions. On the other hand, they are promoting the elections. If they really have guts, they would have released all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint,” Thaik Tun Oo told DVB.
The regime has granted a total of 19 amnesties since the 2021 coup. Around 8,000 political prisoners have been released since then, according to PPNM.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has documented 30,031 have been detained in Myanmar since 2021. Over 20,000 of them remain in detention.
The regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) stated that its elections will be held in 274 of 330 Myanmar’s townships. Fifty-seven political parties will contest the polls. But only six, including the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will field candidates nationwide.
The USDP ruled Myanmar from 2011-16 until it was defeated in back to back landslide election victories by the NLD in 2015 and 2020. It was ousted from government in the 2021 coup. Both Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint have been held incommunicado by the regime ever since.
The NLD was dissolved by the UEC in March 2023 for not re-registering post-coup.
