The military junta held an election that lacked support from the public and the international community.  In a bid to regain some of that support,  and before they form a new government this month, the junta is granting amnesty to some political prisoners.

Whenever the military junta faces a crisis in its rule, it usually takes such actions to ease crises in its rule, said U Myo Kyaw, spokesperson with the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD).

“This is their routine practice. When those in power face a crisis, they usually take such steps to ease the situation and improve their image among the public and the international community. At a time when the military junta is committing violence and killing its own people and receiving no support or recognition from other countries, such moves are perceived to be humane. I believe we will see more actions like this in the future,” he added.

The release of political prisoners under the amnesty was welcomed, and the military junta is also trying to gain the support of the Myanmar people and the international community for the parliament it plans to form soon.

The military junta announced on March 2 that it had granted amnesty to 7,337 prisoners who had been serving sentences under Sections 50 (j) and 52 (a) of the Counter- Terrorism Law.

Among those granted amnesty, 3,613 political prisoners were released from 31 prisons, according to the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).

“These releases are carried out gradually to legitimize the government’s military plans to form after the election, particularly the one expected to be formed in March,” U Myo Kyaw said.