Myanmar Junta Releases 3,085 Political Prisoners Before Elections

Myanmar's military junta announced on Wednesday an amnesty releasing 3,085 political prisoners convicted under a law restricting free speech and dropping charges against 5,580 others, as the country prepares for elections scheduled to begin on December 28. The move, described by state media as a step to ensure eligible voters can participate freely, marked the largest such release since the 2021 coup that ousted the civilian government.

Releases began the following day at Yangon's Insein Prison, where reporters observed around 200 prisoners emerging in white minibuses to emotional reunions with waiting families. Among those freed was Kyi Toe, a former information committee chief for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, who had been detained since 2021. Speaking to journalists outside the prison gates, Toe expressed resolve, saying, "I am determined to work with Aunty until I am 90 years old," using a term of respect for the 80-year-old Suu Kyi. He noted that other senior party members remained imprisoned. A freelance journalist, Zaw Lin Htut, also known as Phoe Thar, was among those released after his 2021 arrest.

The amnesty targets convictions under Section...