BY Rosemary
Myanmar’s military leadership has granted amnesty to more than 10,000 prisoners and reduced sentences for thousands of others in a sweeping clemency move timed to coincide with a national holiday, according to state-run media reports released Monday. The announcement comes just weeks before the country’s parliament is scheduled to reconvene for the first time in more than five years following a controversial election widely criticized by opposition groups and international observers.
State broadcaster MRTV reported that Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who heads the military government, authorized the release of 10,162 inmates to mark Peasants’ Day, an annual observance honoring the nation’s farmers. Of those freed, 7,337 had been convicted under Myanmar’s counterterrorism law, legislation that has drawn intense scrutiny since the army seized power in February 2021.
In addition to those already imprisoned, authorities said 12,487 individuals who were either facing prosecution under the same law or were in hiding would receive amnesty. Their incitement-related cases will be closed, effectively clearing legal proceedings that in many instances stemmed from anti-junta protests or expressions of dissent following the military takeover.
The counterterrorism statute carries penalties that can include life imprisonment or the death sentence. Since the ouster of the elected civilian government, the law has been used extensively against political opponents, activists, journalists and ordinary citizens accused of supporting resistance movements. Rights groups have repeatedly criticized its application as overly broad and politically motivated.
Despite the scale of the amnesty, there was no indication that former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be among those released. The 80-year-old Nobel laureate has been held largely incommunicado since the 2021 coup and is serving a combined 27-year prison sentence following a series of convictions that supporters and independent observers have described as politically driven. Her continued detention remains a focal point of international concern and a symbol of the unresolved political crisis gripping the country.
The timing of the clemency has drawn attention. Myanmar’s newly elected parliament is set to convene later this month, marking its first session since the military dissolved the previous legislature after the coup. The recent election delivered victory to a military-backed political party, but opposition groups were largely excluded from the process, and critics both inside and outside the country have questioned the credibility of the vote.
Mass prisoner releases tied to national holidays are not uncommon in Myanmar, where authorities have historically used amnesties to mark significant dates. However, the scale of this announcement — particularly the inclusion of thousands prosecuted under security laws — underscores the delicate political moment as the military government seeks to consolidate control while projecting an image of normalization.
A separate statement indicated that 10 foreign nationals would also be released and deported. Details regarding their identities and nationalities were not immediately disclosed.
The process of freeing prisoners began Monday and is expected to unfold over several days. As of the initial announcement, officials had not released a comprehensive list of those granted clemency, leaving families and advocacy groups waiting for confirmation of specific names.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent monitoring organization tracking arrests and detentions linked to Myanmar’s political turmoil, more than 22,800 political detainees remained in custody as of last week. The group has documented thousands of arrests since the coup, along with numerous casualties tied to clashes between security forces and resistance groups across the country.
Myanmar has remained deeply divided since the military takeover, which ended a decade-long experiment with limited civilian rule. Armed resistance movements have emerged in several regions, and fighting between junta forces and ethnic armed organizations continues in parts of the country. Economic conditions have deteriorated, foreign investment has fallen, and humanitarian agencies warn of mounting hardship for civilians displaced by conflict.
Analysts say the amnesty could serve multiple objectives: reducing prison overcrowding, easing international criticism, and attempting to shape the political atmosphere ahead of the parliament’s return. Yet without the release of high-profile political figures — particularly Aung San Suu Kyi — many observers argue that the move stops short of signaling any substantive shift in the military’s grip on power.
As Myanmar prepares for the reopening of its legislature under military oversight, the broader political landscape remains uncertain. While thousands may soon walk free, the country’s fundamental crisis — rooted in the struggle between military authority and popular demands for democratic governance — shows little sign of resolution.