Despite the Presidential amnesty, any political activist who breaks the law once released from prison will still be liable to face the time remaining on his or her sentence, Myanmar’s Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint told Parliament on Monday.
Replying to a question by MP Daw Sandar, the Home Affairs deputy minister said, “Any prisoner released under an amnesty shall be charged with the remainder of his or her punishment if they break any parameter.”
The statement by Kyaw Zan Myint would appear to contradict President Thein Sein who promised in his radio speech on June 4 that those released through amnesty will not be charged with any remaining sentence—a clause which is known as Section 401.
Former political prisoner and ex-army captain Nay Myo Zin was released in a presidential amnesty in January 2012 by signing 401(1), but was again sentenced to 3 months in May for defaming the police force. In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered that the remaining six years of his previous sentence be imposed. However, he was later released.
