It follows the junta's announcement Monday that it would release more than 5,600 people from arrest for protesting against military rule since a coup in February The released prisoners would need to sign a document pledging not to commit any acts of violence against the country, the junta added.
Since the coup, Myanmar has arrested more than 9,000 people, of whom an estimated 7,355 are still in detention, according to non-profit group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners AAPP The Southeast Asian country sank into chaos following the coup, with daily protests continuing for months and insurgencies flaring across border regions. A widespread crackdown led to the thousands of reported detentions as well as bloody reports of torture.
Also on Monday junta chairman Gen. Min Aung Hlaing blasted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN which said last week it would exclude him from an upcoming meeting of the regional bloc. Instead, a non-political figure from Myanmar would be invited to the ASEAN Summit next week, the group said.
In a statement, the current ASEAN Chair said there was insufficient progress on a roadmap to restore peace in Myanmar, adding that the group would give Myanmar space to restore its internal affairs and return to normalcy. In response, Min Aung Hlaing blamed the Myanmar opposition regional Unity Government and various ethnic armed groups for the ongoing violence and said ASEAN should have targeted them instead of the junta.
More violence was caused by the provocations of terrorist groups, said Min Aung Hlaing in a Monday speech. No one cares about their violence and is just demanding that we solve the issue. They, made on ASEAN TV, are Min Aung Hlaing's first remarks since the announcement by state media.
The junta will continue to refuse being transparent with respect to the individual persons held and identified, AAPP said in a statement. The released 'demonstrators' were practicing the fundamental right to free assembly against an illegitimate coup attempt. UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews welcomed the release of some prisoners but said it was scandalous they were detained in the first place.
The junta is releasing political prisoners in Myanmar not because of change of heart, but because of pressure, he said in a statement posted on Twitter.
In August, Min Aung Hlaing declared himself the Prime Minister of a newly formed caretaker government and promised to hold new elections within two years and work with a special envoy named by ASEAN.