UN urges broader political steps in Myanmar after prisoners' release

The UN on Friday took note of recent amnesty measures announced in Myanmar, including prisoners' release, sentence reductions, and the commutation of death penalties to life imprisonment, as well as reports of the release of former President Win Myint.

UN chief's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "underscores the need for further, meaningful steps to secure the swift release of all individuals it considers arbitrarily detained, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi."

The UN emphasized that broader progress is still required to create conditions for a credible political process in Myanmar.

"A viable political solution must be founded on an immediate cessation of violence and a genuine commitment to inclusive dialogue. This requires an environment that allows the people of Myanmar to freely and peacefully exercise their political rights," Dujarric said.

He added that Guterres encourages continued dialogue between all relevant Myanmar stakeholders and his special envoy, Julie Bishop.

Myanmar on Friday commuted all death sentences for serving prisoners to life imprisonment, in the first such order since junta chief Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency earlier this month.

It is the first such nationwide pardon under Min, who has ruled Myanmar directly since the 2021 military coup that ousted the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma, as many as 30,870 people have been arrested since the 2021 coup, with some 8,700 released. The group says 7,972 people have been killed over the past five years.