Regime’s mass prisoner release intended to win hearts and minds ahead of planned 2023 elections, critics say

By DMG 21 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
21 November 2022, Sittwe 

The Myanmar military regime’s recent release of dozens of political prisoners and members of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) serving time in prisons across the country has been widely viewed as an effort to boost the junta’s badly damaged image as it looks to establish credibility ahead of planned elections next year. 

“While all, including the United Nations and Western countries including the US, are saying they have no trust in the election, and that the election will not meet democratic standards, the regime has released some political prisoners to enhance the perception of its election,” political analyst U Than Soe Naing told DMG. 

In a mass amnesty to commemorate the country’s National Day, the regime said it set free 5,774 prisoners on November 17, and released 18 members of the Arakan Army, 20 members of the Kachin Independence Army, five members of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army, and two members of the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army the following day. 

The release of the EAO members will not have any impact on Myanmar’s ongoing internal armed conflicts, U Than Soe Naing predicted. 

Many more people who were unfairly detained remain behind bars and more are being arrested, said the chairman of the Arakan National Party, U Thar Tun Hla. 

“It is good that prisoners were released. But in conflict areas, the number of people detained daily on suspicion is higher than the number of those released. And there are still many prisoners of conscience who are yet to be released,” said U Thar Tun Hla. 

Meanwhile, many people have been forced from their homes in ethnic areas including Arakan State, and people are suffering from various hardships due to the junta’s stifling blockade in the state’s north, he added. 

Arakan Liberation Army vice chairperson Saw Mra Razar Lin welcomed the recent prisoner releases, but said more must be done to achieve peace. 

“It is a constructive step toward peace. However, the stride is small,” she told DMG. 

The regime formed a new Union Election Commission not long after seizing power, and is also intending to replace the first-past-the-post electoral system with one of proportional representation in next year’s planned general election.