By Ra Wai / MPA
A report by ISP-Myanmar on Monday revealed that in the nearly four years since the military coup, only 8.6 percent of individuals released during 16 junta-declared amnesties were political prisoners.
The military junta has released a total of 101,729 detainees across 16 amnesties since the coup, but only 8,762 of them were political prisoners, according to recent data.
A political activist based in Monywa criticized the amnesties, stating, “The junta’s so-called amnesty is nothing more than a show by Min Aung Hlaing to claim presidential powers. The ISP findings clearly show that political prisoners are not prioritized, and it is evident there is no political goodwill behind these actions.”
On Independence Day 2025, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitored the release of political prisoners. By 4 p.m. on Monday, approximately 340 political prisoners had been released from 30 prisons and one youth training center. Among those released, the AAPP confirmed the identities of 73 individuals by name.
The military junta claimed to have released 5,864 prisoners on Independence Day 2025. However, ISP-Myanmar reported that at least 21,499 political prisoners remain in detention, with more than 9,985 of them sentenced to terms ranging from one year to the death penalty.