The Burmese military have today announced an ‘amnesty’ for more than 7,000 people convicted under terrorism laws. The mass release of political prisoners was expected as part of propaganda efforts by the Burmese military as they rebrand themselves following sham elections at the end of 2025 and early 2026. The releases are not a sign of change or reform.
The Burmese military definition of terrorism includes legitimate armed resistance to Burmese military dictatorship, criticism of the Burmese military, speaking to a member of a resistance group, or being a family member of someone accused of terrorism.
“The Burmese military, fighting for their survival, are cynically using political prisoners as a propaganda tool, this is not a sign of reform,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The Burmese military should not be praised for releasing people who should never have been detained in the first place.”
The amnesty does not mean all these political prisoners will actually be released. Many activists have been convicted under multiple repressive laws, so could still be kept in prison relating to these other so-called offences.
In acts of particular cruelty, in the past some political prisoners have also faced immediate re-arrest on new charges after being released.
Since latest military coup in 2021, the Burmese military has detained record numbers of political prisoners, with more than 22,000 detained before the amnesty was announced. This represents almost a 1,000 percent increase compared to the pre 2010 military dictatorship average number of political prisoners. More than 30,000 people have been arrested since the 2021 coup.
Political prisoners face horrific conditions in jail, often facing beating and torture after arrest, and then being denied access to medical care, essential medicines, and nutritional food. Many face lifelong health problems after release, with no support or compensation.
The Burmese military, fighting for their survival in the face of mass resistance, were expected to start the mass release of political prisoners following the sham elections, as they rebrand yet again. They may be hoping to repeat the success of the sham reform process after the 2010 election, but making fewer concessions this time.
In our July 2025 briefing paper, ‘The Burmese Military’s ‘Elections’: New Date, New Danger, Same Sham’, Burma Campaign UK predicted these releases:
“In 2011, Thein Sein had around 2,000 political prisoners which he used tactically, releasing them in batches at times to maximise public relations benefits at key moments. Now the military has 22,000 political prisoners. It could gain global positive headlines by releasing thousands at a time. The releases would be welcome but should not be interpreted as reforms or a sign of change. They will be purely tactical.”
The briefing paper is available here.
At the same time as public relations releases regarding political prisoners, the Burmese military continues to deliberately target civilians with deadly airstrikes. It is more than a year since the British government brought in any new sanctions to reduce money, arms and equipment, including jet fuel, reaching the Burmese military.
“These releases are part of a public relations effort that will likely include a military-backed government in civilian clothing and launching another fake peace process. The international community must not fall for another military drafted fake reform process,” said Mark Farmaner. “The Burmese military will never reform. The international community must not try to force the people of Burma into dialogue and compromise with their oppressor. That will only start the countdown to the next military coup.”