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Sources confirm only 14 political prisoners released under terms of amnesty

HURFOM: In commemoration of the 77^th Independence Day, the military junta released 5,864 prisoners from all prisons and detention centres across Burma under the terms of amnesty on January 4^th, 2025.

However, according to reliable sources, only 14 political prisoners were released. This included five political prisoners from Kyikemayaw Central Prison, one political prisoner from Thaton Prison in Mon State, two political prisoners from Dawei Prison, and six political prisoners from Myeik Prison in Tenasserim Division. None of the political prisoners from Kaw Thaung Prison was released.

“General Zaw Min Tun said more than 600 political prisoners who have severed their prison terms under Burmese Criminal Act #505 would be released under the terms of amnesty,” said a member of the Political Prisoner Network Myanmar (PPNM).

Two political prisoners released from Dawei Prison are Ma Way Way Ei who is a resident of Long Lone Town and served 10-year imprisonment under Burmese Criminal Act 50(J) and CDM Schoolteacher Ko Phyo Htike Zaw who served three-year imprisonment under Burmese Criminal Act #505(A).

“We’ve heard three political prisoners would be released but in reality, only two were released. My female friend has only seven days to be released but she wasn’t included in the amnesty,” said a social worker who helps political prisoners in Dawei.

The political prisoners in Dawei Prison face increasing abuse from the prison authority and year after year, fewer political prisoners are released.

“The junta has also been monitoring those who are helping political prisoners so it’s getting more difficult to inquire about political prisoners,” continued the source.

670 prisoners were released across Mon State but only 31 political prisoners were included in the list. In the Tenasserim Division, nearly 200 prisoners were released but just 25 political prisoners were granted the amnesty.

“Only when they are under pressure from the international community, do they release political prisoners. But they’ve violated the human rights of political prisoners in prisons and denied their right to have proper medical treatment,” said a social worker who helps political prisoners.

According to a statement issued by ISP Myanmar on January 6^th, 2025, since 2021, the military junta has granted amnesty 16 times and released 101,729 prisoners but only a total of 8,762 or 8.6 percent of political prisoners have been released.

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