According to Ko Thet Tun Oo, a leading committee member of the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM), less than 5% of those released in the military council’s New Year amnesty were political prisoners. The military council announced the release of 4,893 prisoners from various prisons across the country on April 17, Myanmar New Year’s Day. However, it has been revealed that only a very small number of political prisoners were included among those granted amnesty.
Ko Thet Tun Oo confirmed that the rate of political prisoner releases was extremely low, accounting for less than 5% of the total releases. According to preliminary data available, the distribution of released political prisoners across various prisons is as follows: two men from Paungde Prison, one man and one woman from Dawei Prison, five men and four women from Pyay Prison, four men and one woman from Pakokku Prison, and two men and two women from Nyaung-U Prison. These numbers demonstrate the minimal representation of political prisoners in the amnesty program.
While the military council traditionally grants prisoner amnesties on New Year’s Day annually, the majority of those released are typically individuals convicted of criminal offenses and those who might serve the council’s interests. The release of political prisoners is subject to extremely strict conditions, and those who are released are prohibited from participating in any further political activities. This pattern reflects the military council’s continued suppression of political dissent and selective approach to prisoner releases, prioritizing those who do not pose a challenge to their authority while maintaining tight control over political activists and opposition figures who remain in detention.
