Seven Arakan State political prisoners released in Independence Day amnesty

By Admin 06 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
6 January 2024, Sittwe

Seven political prisoners in Arakan State’s Sittwe Prison were among thousands pardoned by Myanmar’s military regime on Wednesday in a mass amnesty to mark the 76th anniversary of Independence Day.

A total of 203 prisoners in Arakan State — 98 from Sittwe Prison, 49 from Buthidaung Prison, 35 from Kyaukphyu Prison and 21 from Thandwe Prison — were released on January 4.

Among the 98 prisoners released from Sittwe Prison are seven political prisoners who were jailed under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

The seven political prisoners released from Sittwe Prison are Ko Zaw Min Htet from Panphechaung Village; U Kyaw Than Maung from Khaungtoke Village in Kyauktaw Township; U Ba Thein and U Maung Maung Khin from Thetkelpyin Village in Sittwe Township; and three people including U Mel Maung from Paletwa Township.

“Seven political prisoners including me were released from Sittwe Prison. We were imprisoned under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code,” said a released political prisoner.

They were arrested and prosecuted during the 2022 fighting between the military and Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State.

No one charged and sentenced under Section 17(1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act was among those released in a junta amnesty.

A human rights activist in Arakan State said that the regime wants to continue to suppress those associated with the armed resistance groups and so did not include those imprisoned under Section 17(1) and (2) of the Unlawful Associations Act in its amnesty.

“According to the junta amnesty, there are no people who have been jailed or are facing trial because they are related to the armed forces. This means that the regime continues to oppress those imprisoned because it is linked to an armed organisation,” the human rights activist added.

About 80 out of more than 200 people who have been arrested and jailed during the 2022 fighting have been released so far.