According to their colleagues, some political prisoners released by the junta on Monday were re-arrested the next day and charged under the terrorism code.
Over 5,600 people were released by Myanmar's dictatorship, most of whom had been jailed and were facing prosecution for engaging in anti-junta protests. Since the coup, the junta has detained more than 7,300 people as of Saturday.
11 of the 38 political prisoners released in Mandalay Region's Meiktila town were arrested by police after walking out of Meiktila Prison. An elected member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), other NLD members, and political activists, including members of the '88 Generation students movement, were among those re-arrested.
On Tuesday morning, NLD sources indicated that 11 would be charged with attempted terrorism and communicate with terrorist groups under articles 50A and 52J of the Counterterrorism Law. They might be punished to up to seven years in jail if proven guilty.
U Lwin Maung Maung, who was elected to the Mandalay regional parliament on the NLD ticket in 2020, was taken by the police at around 6 p.m. in Mandalay, according to sources from the Mandalay branch the NLD.
"I saw Ko Lwin [U Lwin Maung Maung] at the prison gate, but right after his release, police took him to the No. 1 Police Station near Meiktila Prison, and some were arrested before returning home," said a source who was in front of the prison at the time.
In late April, U Lwin Mg Mg was arrested and charged with sedition under Section 505-A of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum of three years in prison.
The Irrawaddy was unable to contact the police for comment.
The amnesty came just days after ASEAN barred junta leader Min Aung Hlaing from attending the group's forthcoming meeting for failing to cooperate with the regional bloc's efforts to resolve Myanmar's post-coup political situation. The junta claimed the detainees were released for humanitarian reasons. Still, many feel the amnesty on Monday was an attempt by the authorities to alleviate ASEAN's ten members, of which Myanmar is a part.
Previously, in February and April, the dictatorship proclaimed large amnesties.
