Narinjara News, April 18, 2023

None of the individuals who were arrested and imprisoned for alleged links to the Arakan Army (AA) were released when the Military Council granted amnesty to mark the traditional Myanmar New Year from the 173 prisoners released from prisons in Rakhine State, according to political analysts.

An informal ceasefire with the AA was successfully negotiated in November of last year, and part of the agreement included a military assurance to release individuals who had been arrested due to their association with the AA.

U Pe Than, a former Pyithu Hluttaw member from Myebon Township and a Rakhine political analyst, expressed criticism over the fact that individuals imprisoned for their association with the AA, were not included in the amnesty.

“ The fact that there are no political prisoners among those who were granted amnesty is complete nonsense. The Myanmar Military had already promised to release individuals who were arrested due to their association with AA, during the ceasefire negotiations with ULA (United League of Arakan). It is crucial that these individuals be given priority within the amnesty.”, he said.

Despite an agreement being reached with AA, the Military Council failed to uphold their commitment to release those who were arrested in connection with AA under amnesty. This resulted in disappointment for the family members of the detained individuals.

In Rakhine State, the Military Council has arrested a significant number of people who have been accused of being associated with the AA, but there is insufficient concrete evidence to support these claims. U Mrat Tun, the director of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association (AHRDPA), and a former political prisoner himself, believes that the Military Council's deliberate decision to exclude these detainees from their amnesty may be a strategic political move.

“ I believe this is all a political maneuver. Many individuals have been arrested under the accusation of being involved with an illegal organization, but the evidence against them is weak. Based on international human rights norms, these individuals ought to be released. The fact that people are being accused without concrete proof and held in detention for extended periods, is a clear violation of human rights by the Military Council”, he noted.

Following a period of relative calm in Rakhine State, renewed hostilities between the AA and the Military Council led to four months of fighting last year. During the conflict, the Military Council arrested 594 civilians in several townships across Rakhine State, with only 391 individuals subsequently released. According to U Khaing Thu Kha, spokesperson for the ULA/AA, at the seventh ULA/AA press conference held online on February 27th, 203 individuals are still being held in detention.

On April 17th, in celebration of the traditional Myanmar New Year, a total of 173 inmates from prisons across Rakhine State were released under amnesty. This included 17 individuals from Sittwe prison, 124 individuals from Buthidaung prison (76 men and 48 women), 19 individuals from Kyaunphyu prison (15 men and 4 women), and 13 individuals from Thandwe prison.

Across the nation, the Military Council granted amnesty to more than 3,000 prisoners on April 17 th and as far as is known it appears that no political prisoners have been released.