Strategic Deception: The Junta’s Political Prisoner Release as Hostage Diplomacy

As the Thingyan Water Festival marked the transition from the old year to the new one and the Blue Shirt Campaign called for the immediate and unconditional release of President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and all political prisoners, the junta staged a selective release on New Year Day to project an image of international recognition—consistent with the Myanmar military’s long-standing playbook. On 17 April 2026—traditionally a time of cleansing, renewal, and moral reckoning—the junta claimed that 4,335 prisoners were released. However, only 1,686 were actually freed, and among them, only 292 were political prisoners, as reported by the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).

Among those released was President U Win Myint who was unlawfully detained for five years, two months, and sixteen days since the junta’s illegal coup attempt on 1 February 2021. Notably, he reportedly refused to sign a release under Section 401 of the Criminal Procedure Code, asserting his innocence and rejecting any implication of wrongdoing.  Within two days of his release, President U Win Myint was placed under tight control by the junta. Security forces have reportedly been deployed around his residence and the homes of some National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders in Naypyidaw, while individuals who have met with him have been subjected to subsequent interrogations.

The ongoing military surveillance of President U Win Myint, alongside the continued unlawful detention of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners,  demonstrates that such selective releases do not constitute a genuine amnesty, but rather a window dressing  effort in the junta’s ongoing attempt to deceive the  international community and seek legitimacy. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has consistently warned that the junta chief’s so-called amnesty does not contribute to peace and stability.

The international community must not allow the junta to perpetuate this deception. In particular, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Philippines as ASEAN’s 2026 Chair, the United States, and the European Union (EU) must coordinate to increase targeted sanctions against the military junta, press for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, and support Myanmar’s democratic actors in dismantling the junta.

International responses have acknowledged the junta’s deceptive amnesty and ongoing atrocities. The United Nations (UN) has taken note of the junta’s announcement of prisoner releases while emphasizing that such partial measures fall far short of meaningful progress. Meanwhile, in its 13 April update, the UN Department for General Assembly and Conference Management reaffirmed recognition of Myanmar’s civilian leadership, listing U Win Myint as President and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as Minister for Foreign Affairs. Similarly, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has reaffirmed its recognition of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) as Myanmar’s legitimate parliamentary body. These positions signal continued international rejection of the illegal junta’s attempts to consolidate power through coercion and institutional manipulation.

Moreover, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has reiterated the urgent need to end ongoing abuses, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) has stated that any political rebranding by Min Aung Hlaing cannot shield him from accountability for crimes against humanity.

Despite Thingyan’s cultural and religious significance, the junta continued its systematic aerial attacks against civilians across Myanmar. In the Sagaing Region, violence escalated: on 13 April, a monastery in Seik Khun village, Shwebo Township, was bombed, killing two monks and a novice; on 14 April, an airstrike in Yin Maung Taing village, Salingyi Township, killed one civilian. In Karen State, between 11 and 14 April, repeated bombings of villages and schools were documented by the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN).

Notably, on 12 April, a junta airstrike targeted a hospital operated by the Karen National Union (KNU) near the Thai border. On 15 April, artillery shelling struck a monastery in Thit Kyi Taw village, injuring a monk and a civilian, while aerial assaults across the Monywa–Salingyi area intensified. In the Magway Region, on 16 April, an airstrike in Pauktaw Township killed two civilians and injured five others. On the same day, in Kyaukkar village, Monywa Township, at least seventeen civilians were killed. On 19 April, airstrikes damaged a monastery in Mrauk-U Township, Rakhine State.

The international community, including governments, the UN, and ASEAN, must step up to take decisive actions to end the junta’s atrocities and secure the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta must be held accountable under international law for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide against the Rohingya.

Further targeted sanctions must be imposed on the junta, particularly targeting aviation fuel supplies. Equally critical is the categorical denial of legitimacy to the junta and Min Aung Hlaing in his self-appointed presidential post. Instead, principled engagement should be formalized with Myanmar’s legitimate democratic actors, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union (SCEF), in support of the people’s revolution and ongoing efforts to establish a genuine federal democratic union.

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[1] One year following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, the former military junta changed the country’s name from Burma to Myanmar overnight. Progressive Voice uses the term ‘Myanmar’ in acknowledgement that most people of the country use this term. However, the deception of inclusiveness and the historical process of coercion by the former State Peace and Development Council military regime into usage of ‘Myanmar’ rather than ‘Burma’ without the consent of the people is recognized and not forgotten. Thus, under certain circumstances, ‘Burma’ is used.

Progressive Voice is a participatory, rights-based policy research and advocacy organization that was born out of Burma Partnership. Burma Partnership officially ended its work on October 10, 2016 transitioning to a rights-based policy research and advocacy organization called Progressive Voice. For further information, please see our press release “Burma Partnership Celebrates Continuing Regional Solidarity for Burma and Embraces the Work Ahead for Progressive Voice.”