NLD government officials released in amnesty; CHRO updates Australia on Myanmar crisis since 2021 coup

NLD government officials released in amnesty

Sources told DVB that at least three high-ranking officials in the National League for Democracy (NLD) government from 2016-2021 were released in a regime amnesty to mark Burma’s Peasants’ Day on Monday. Jailed NLD State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who have been held in detention by the military since the coup on Feb. 1, 2021, were not freed, sources confirmed to DVB.

Friends and family members of Moe Moe Su Kyi, the NLD immigration minister in the Yangon Region government who was ousted in the 2021 coup, told DVB that she was released from Yangon’s Insein Prison on March 2. A total of 10,172 prisoners, including 7,337 convicted of violating Sections 50(j) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, were included in this regime amnesty.

NLD member Myo Aung, who was ousted as Naypyidaw Mayor in 2021, was reportedly freed from Mandalay’s Yamethin Prison. The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar reported that 1,895 political prisoners were released from 15 prisons nationwide on March 2. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has documented that at least 22,818 citizens remain in detention for opposing the 2021 military coup. Read more

CHRO updates Australia on Myanmar crisis since 2021 coup

Salai Za Uk Ling, the executive director of the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), gave evidence about democracy and human rights in Burma since the 2021 coup and an update on the criminal complaint filed in Timor-Leste under the legal principle of universal jurisdiction, before Australia’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee at the Senate in the capital Canberra on Tuesday.

“Australia’s position matters. We respectfully urge [the] clear rejection of [the military’s] illegitimate electoral processes, coordinated measures to restrict aviation fuel used in attacks on civilians, expanded cross border humanitarian assistance, advocacy for referral to the International Criminal Court, and support for lawful accountability efforts,” Salai Za Uk Ling said in his speech at the Australian Senate on March 3.

CHRO collaborated with the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP), led by Chris Gunness, to file legal proceedings at the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the Timor-Leste capital Dili on Jan. 12 alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by 14 senior military leaders in Burma since the 2021 coup. Fortify Rights has called on Australia and Timor-Leste to refer Burma to the International Criminal Court (ICC).