Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief Page: 2 of 19
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Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief
Summary
Despite a campaign pledge that they "would not arrest anyone as political prisoners," Aung San
Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD) have failed to fulfil this promise since
they took control of Burma's Union Parliament and the government's executive branch in April
2016. While presidential pardons have been granted for some political prisoners, people continue
to be arrested, detained, tried, and imprisoned for alleged violations of Burmese laws, some
dating back to British colonial rule.
According to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (Burma), or AAPP(B), a Thailand-
based, nonprofit human rights organization formed in 2000 by former Burmese political
prisoners, there were 275 political prisoners in Burma as of the end of July 2018.
During its two years in power, the NLD government has provided pardons for Burma's political
prisoners on three occasions. Soon after assuming office in April 2016, former President Htin
Kyaw and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi took steps to secure the release of nearly 235
political prisoners. On May 23, 2017, former President Htin Kyaw granted pardons to 259
prisoners, including 89 political prisoners. On April 17, 2018, current President Win Myint
pardoned 8,541 prisoners, including 36 political prisoners.
Aung San Suu Kyi and her government, however, also have demonstrated a willingness to use
Burma's laws to suppress the opinions of its political opponents and restrict press freedoms. The
NLD-led government arrested two Reuters reporters who had reported on alleged murders of
Rohingya by Tatmadaw soldiers, Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, in December 2017 and charged
them with violating the Official Secrets Act of 1923. The two reporters allegedly were given
"secret documents" by Myanmar Police officers. Despite evidence that the documents had been
given to the reporters as part of a police "sting operation," on September 3, 2018, the judge
sentenced the two reporters to seven years in prison. In addition, Aung Ko Htwe was sentenced to
two years in prison with hard labor on March 28, 2018, following his August 2017 interview with
Radio Free Asia about his allegations that he was forced by the Tatmadaw to become a "child
soldier."
The Union Parliament has repealed or amended a few of the numerous laws that authorities use to
arrest and prosecute people for political reasons, and further has passed new laws that some
observers see as limiting political expression and protection of human rights. In addition, the
Tatmadaw directly or indirectly control the nation's security forces (including the Myanmar
Police Force) and the Tatmadaw's leadership has not demonstrated an interest in ending Burma's
history of political imprisonment.
Congress may consider these issues when it examines U.S. policy toward Burma, and if and how
to integrate concerns regarding political imprisonment into overall policy. Congress may also
choose to assess how other important issues in Burma should influence U.S. policy, including
efforts to end the nation's ongoing low-grade civil war, the forced deportation of more than
700,000 Rohingya from Rakhine State, and prospects for constitutional and legal reform designed
to establish a democratically elected civilian government that respects the human rights and civil
liberties of all Burmese people.Congressional Research Service
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Martin, Michael F. Burma's Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief, report, September 24, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1311943/m1/2/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.