Five of 16 political prisoners released from Tharyarwaddy Prison in Myanmar’s Bago region on Wednesday were immediately re-arrested by the junta after completing their sentences, according to sources.
A relative of one of the re-arrested prisoners told Myanmar Now that junta police did not allow them to see their families after their release.
“They were taken out of the prison in a prison vehicle and brought to a court in Tharyarwaddy,” the source said. “While they were waiting there, police came out and announced that certain people—calling out the prisoners’ fathers’ names—would not be released.”
Those re-arrested were identified as Tin Soe, also known as Nat Soe, his wife May Myat Thu, Sai Aung Ngin, Jerry Kaung Htike, and one man whose name remains unknown. All five were detained in early 2021 and sentenced under the Counter-Terrorism Law, with their release scheduled for September 30.
Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, the military has jailed thousands of activists under broad laws it uses to silence dissent, including sedition charges and accusations of belonging to “unlawful” groups. It also toughened its Counter-Terrorism Law in mid-2021, allowing even online criticism to be labeled as terrorism.
Under Myanmar’s Counter-Terrorism Law, Section 52(a) criminalises committing “acts of terrorism” and carries prison terms of up to seven years. Section 52(b) extends liability to those who finance, assist, or facilitate terrorism—even if they do not directly commit the acts themselves.
A former political prisoner who has experienced the harsh conditions of Tharyarwaddy Prison told Myanmar Now that the junta police are now relying on punitive terrorism charges under Sections 52(a) and 52(b), instead of the lesser unlawful association charge, and often add these charges to extend prison sentences.
On August 7, junta police also re-arrested Moe San Su Kyi, a former National League for Democracy youth official, shortly after she finished her sentence. The daughter of former Rakhine State Chief Minister, Nyi Pu, had served six years for sedition and unlawful association, but was charged again under the wide reaching Counter-Terrorism Law.
Grace, a former political prisoner recently released from Tharyarwaddy Prison, said many inmates held under the Unlawful Associations Act remain behind bars even after their sentences ended this year. She fears they may not be freed anytime soon.
“We’ve had concerns from the beginning,” Grace said. “When they did this to May Myat Thu and Nat Soe, we became even more worried. Previously, this happened to Moe San Su Kyi too. Now that they’re doing this to these people as well, those remaining inside are trembling with fear.”
The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM), a local group that advocates for detainees, issued a statement on October 2 sharply condemning the junta for re-arresting and charging political prisoners who had already completed their sentences under the Counter-Terrorism Law.
Grace said anxiety only grows as release day approaches, with many prisoners terrified they’ll be taken back into custody at the last moment.
“Even on release day, the prisoners are shaking with fear,” she said. “When you get to the prison gate, you’re wondering if you’ll actually make it through—that’s our nightmare.”
