A source close to the National League for Democracy (NLD) told DVB that party spokesperson Myo Nyunt was released by the regime’s Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday after being taken in for questioning on April 18 due to his comments to Myanmar independent media about President Win Myint’s release from Bago Region’s Taungoo Prison in a Myanmar New Year amnesty on April 17.
The source added that Win Myint’s residence in Naypyidaw, as well as homes of other NLD executive members, are under “strict surveillance.” Anyone visiting Win Myint must undergo thorough checks in advance, including identity verification, and scrutiny through a new technology implemented by the regime called the Personal Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS). DVB is unable to verify this claim independently.
“The President never committed any crime. He was detained unjustly. The military’s pattern is to arrest political prisoners and then release or re-arrest them based on whatever political advantage they hope to gain,” Nay Phone Latt, the National Unity Government (NUG) spokesperson, told DVB.
Myo Nyunt told DVB on April 17 that Win Myint did not sign a pledge under Section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which states that if the offender re-commits he or she must serve both the new sentence and any remaining portion of the previous sentence.
Thaik Tun Oo, the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) spokesperson, told DVB that Section 401 was abolished during the NLD administration 2016-21, but brought back to target political prisoners by the regime following the 2021 coup.
“Whether you sign Section 401 or not, you can get re-arrested anytime,” Thaik Tun Oo told DVB, adding that the PPNM has documented at least 25 political prisoners who signed this pledge but have been re-arrested.
President Win Myint was convicted by a regime court of corruption and for violating Section 130-A of the Penal Code, for “influencing” Myanmar’s electoral body Union Election Commission (UEC) during the 2020 elections, and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
The two NLD senior leaders have been held in detention over the last five years. Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer told Reuters that her sentence was reduced by one-sixth on April 17. A lawyer told DVB that he heard she’ll be transferred to house arrest by the regime soon.
In a video released on social media, Aung San Suu Kyi’s son Kim Aris requested the regime provide him proof of life, as he hasn’t heard from his mother in over two years. Aris has only received one letter from Aung San Suu Kyi since she was detained in 2021.
“There is still no confirmed information about my mother’s situation. Reports that she may have been moved to house arrest remain unverified, and no official communication has been made to her family. As a son, I ask for something simple. If she is alive, please provide proof of life,” Aris stated in a press release on April 19.
Thaik Tun Oo’s PPNM reported on April 18 that 1,686 inmates, including 292 political prisoners, have been released in the amnesty since April 17. Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated as president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, announced that 4,514 prisoners were granted an amnesty for Myanmar New Year.
