Myanmar’s largely internationally isolated military junta announced amnesty for about 7,000 prisoners on Wednesday. The pardon marks the 75th anniversary of Britain’s independence on January 4.
Individuals imprisoned for murder, rape, illegal association, possession of weapons, drugs, natural disaster management or corruption are excluded from the amnesty.
House arrest for Suu Kyi?
A few days earlier, de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, who was deposed in the military coup in February 2021, had his jail term extended to 33 years. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun did not comment on whether Suu Kyi would be transferred from prison to house arrest as part of the amnesty.
Military parade at dawn
Tanks, missile launchers and armored vehicles rolled onto a parade ground in the capital Naypyidaw at dawn on Wednesday for the Independence Day military parade. State officials and students followed the troops, accompanied by a military band. According to state media, 750 “peace doves” were released to mark the day.
The then British colony of Myanmar declared its independence from the British crown on January 4, 1948. This was preceded by a long liberation struggle led by General Aung San, father of the deposed civilian leader Suu Kyi.
Speaking to the soldiers, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing accused unspecified foreign powers of “interfering in Myanmar’s internal affairs” since the February 2021 coup.
“Sincere greetings” from Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent “sincere greetings” on Independence Day, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, adding that he expects “further development” in relations between the two countries. Moscow is an important ally and arms supplier to the internationally largely isolated junta. The military government had described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, as “justified”.
New elections just for looks?
The military government is currently preparing new elections for later this year, which the US has already described as “sham elections”. Observers expect the junta to abolish the previous system of majority voting in advance. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won overwhelmingly in first-past-the-post elections in 2015 and 2020.
The military overthrew the elected government of Suu Kyi in the Southeast Asian country in February 2021 and took power again. Since then, fighting has erupted in large parts of the country between junta forces and rebels opposed to the coup.
Source: Krone
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