As part of the so-called "amnesty" on August 1, the full moon day of Waso (the beginning of Buddhist Lent), the Myanmar junta announced partial pardons for State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. We compiled how the local and international community reacted to the news on Twitter.
Key notes from the tweets
- Only a handful (over 120 prisoners at the time of writing the report) were political prisoners released out of the 7,749 released prisoners across the country, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
- "The junta deserves no credits as this was their own creation, something they should never have done in the first place. Instead they should be held accountable for the pain and anguish they inflicted, lives lost and families torn asunder by the unlawful & criminal conduct." - Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO).
- "The international community must not fall for what is yet another blatant manipulation tactic from the junta. Giving "pardons" to those who should have never been charged or tried in the first place must not be seen as an act of benevolence." - ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).
- The announcement is "a tactical ploy" and "same old public relations game from the military" and it "doesn't represent a change of direction by the regime." - various tweets
The spokesperson of the National Unity Government (NUG) President Office tweeted a statement from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which reported that only a handful of those released were political prisoners.
Out of the more than 7,000 prisoners released by military junta, only a handful were political prisoners. @aapp_burma reported 120+ political prisoners confirmed in releases; junta continues to deny criminal detention of 24,130.https://t.co/4Sr5OHtTzL #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/NIYXpAT0gU
— Spokesperson, NUG President Office (@NUGPressSPOX) August 2, 2023
"We welcome any improvement in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi conditions, but the military’s ‘pardon’ changes nothing. It does not change the daily bombing of villages, 17,000 people still in prison, economic ruin. It does not change our determination to end military rule in Myanmar."
— Mahn Winn Khine Thann (@MahnWinnKhine) August 1, 2023
The junta deserves no credits as this was their own creation, something they should never have done in the first place. Instead they should be held accountable for the pain and anguish they inflicted, lives lost and families torn asunder by the unlawful & criminal conduct. https://t.co/qmlT1QhRUy
— ChinHumanRightsOrg (@ChinHumanRights) August 1, 2023
The international community must not fall for what is yet another blatant manipulation tactic from the junta. Giving "pardons" to those who should have never been charged or tried in the first place must not be seen as an act of benevolence. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar https://t.co/eHFKBgZvZa
— APHR (@ASEANMP) August 1, 2023
“In a meaningless gesture, Myanmar’s junta cuts Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence” https://t.co/QPj47RHRn4
— Sean Turnell (@TurnellSean) August 1, 2023
The junta’s reported reduction of Aung San Suu Kyi‘s sentence is not an “opening” but a transparent tactical ploy. If it wants to signal an “opening,” how about ending its daily horrific violence against civilians and releasing the thousands it has unjustly detained.
— Scot Marciel (@MarcielScot) August 1, 2023
The revolving door of political prisoners in and out of jail is spinning again. Same old public relations game from the military, which hopes for international speculation on its political significance. The military will never reform.
— Mark Farmaner (@MarkFarmaner) August 1, 2023
“The regime is willing to use her for symbolic purposes, but I don’t see many signs of anything bigger going on” - My comment to @suilee @nytimes on why the (small) reduction in Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence doesn’t represent a change of direction by regime. https://t.co/y98TFgcUzV
— Richard Horsey (@rshorsey) August 1, 2023