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[Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

April 21, 2026/in Member statements

To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF) Honorable Chairperson Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin YunusHuman Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) Honorable Chairperson Ms. Anis HidayahNational Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Indonesia Honorable Provedor Mr. Virgilio da Silva GuterresProvedor de Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) , Timor-Leste Honorable Chairperson […]

President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty

April 18, 2026/in News

Myanmar’s President Win Myint was freed Friday as part of a broad prisoner amnesty by Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated as president by a pro-military parliament on April 10, to mark the traditional Myanmar New Year. The pardon order applied to more than 4,500 prisoners, but it was not immediately clear how many people […]

[Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

April 21, 2026/in Member statements

President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty

April 18, 2026/in News

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[Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

April 21, 2026/in Member statements

To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF)

Honorable Chairperson Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Yunus
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

Honorable Chairperson Ms. Anis Hidayah
National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Indonesia

Honorable Provedor Mr. Virgilio da Silva Guterres
Provedor de Direitos Humanos e Justiça (PDHJ) , Timor-Leste

Honorable Chairperson Atty. Richard Paat Palpal-latoc
Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP)

Honorable Chairperson Ms. Pornprapai Ganjanarintr
National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT)

21 April 2026

[Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

We, the CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar) (Working Group), the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI), and the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) respectfully urge the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF) to take decisive steps toward the formal removal of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) from its membership.

As SEANF convenes its first Technical Working Group Meeting under the leadership of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) from 20–22 April 2026, we encourage meaningful progress, including necessary amendments to the Rules of Procedure, to enable the removal of the junta-controlled MNHRC.

This action is essential to uphold SEANF’s integrity, credibility, and commitment to accountability.

MNHRC’s alignment with the military junta

Since the attempted coup in 2021, the Myanmar military junta has perpetrated widespread and systematic human rights violations against civilians. In this context, the MNHRC has failed to act independently and has instead reinforced the junta’s narratives, thereby undermining its mandate and legitimacy.

For over five years, the MNHRC has remained silent in the face of grave violations. It also openly defended the junta against criticisms.

The MNHRC’s 15 January 2026 statement criticizing SUHAKAM—following SUHAKAM’s concerns over the junta-led sham election held between 28 December 2025 and 25 January 2026—further illustrates its unwillingness to engage constructively and its continued failure to maintain independence as required under the Paris Principles, the minimum international standards expected of national human rights institutions.

Such conduct reflects a fundamental lack of independence, credibility, and meaningful engagement with regional human rights mechanisms.

Recent escalations further underscore the severity of the crisis. Reports of continued airstrikes targeting civilian areas, including attacks in Sagaing Region and Karen and Kachin States, have resulted in significant civilian casualties and destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship. These incidents reflect a pattern of increasing atrocity crimes by the Myanmar military and reinforce the urgent need for accountability, contradicting the junta’s narratives portraying a transition to civilian governance.

Myanmar’s illegitimate junta Chief, now self-appointed president, Min Aung Hlaing, also remains subject to international accountability efforts, including proceedings before courts in Argentina and the International Criminal Court, as well as universal jurisdiction cases initiated in Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

On 10 April 2026, Min Aung Hlaing re-appointed the Commissioners of the MNHRC shortly after assuming the self-appointed presidency. The lack of independence of the MNHRC is again evident, as the Commissioners are selected by the military, reflecting continued military control over the entity and falling short of the independence and pluralism required by the Paris Principles.

This sustained non-compliance has resulted in the MNHRC’s expulsion from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) in March 2025 and the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF) in May 2025.

To preserve its standing as a credible regional human rights body, SEANF must follow suit without further delay.

Safeguarding SEANF’s credibility

Continued inclusion of a dis-accredited institution risks undermining the SEANF’s collective integrity. The removal of the MNHRC, alongside full disengagement from the junta-controlled body, is essential to promoting accountability.

We recognize the ongoing efforts of SEANF members—including its Chair, SUHAKAM—in demonstrating solidarity with the people of Myanmar. We also acknowledge current initiatives to amend the Rules of Procedure to clarify membership and procedural standards, with a view to strengthening accountability and safeguarding the integrity of SEANF.

ANNI and the Working Group extend our support to these efforts and to members actively advancing accountability, while respectfully encouraging timely and concrete progress.

GANHRI’s decision sends a clear message that non-compliance with the Paris Principles cannot be tolerated. We respectfully call on SEANF to act with similar resolve. Doing so would reinforce regional commitment to human rights standards and principled institutional leadership. The removal of the MNHRC also presents an opportunity for SEANF to strengthen its institutional coherence and renew its collective efforts to advance human rights, justice, and accountability across Southeast Asia.

We further encourage SEANF to publicly announce the removal of the MNHRC’s membership and to promptly update all relevant official platforms. In parallel, all forms of engagement with the MNHRC should cease without delay. Transparency in this process will be critical to maintaining public trust.

We look forward to confirmation of the MNHRC’s formal removal from SEANF and remain ready to engage constructively in support of independent and accountable national human rights institutions in the region.

Sincerely,

CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar)
Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

For more information, please contact:

The CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar); WG_NHRI@protonmail.com
ANNI Secretariat, FORUM-ASIA; anni@forum-asia.org

About the Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI)

The Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions (ANNI) was established in December 2006. It is a network of Asian non-governmental organisations and human rights defenders working on issues related to National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). ANNI currently has 33 member organisations from 21 countries or territories. ANNI members work on strengthening the work and functioning of Asian NHRIs to better promote and protect human rights as well as to advocate for the improved compliance of Asian NHRIs with international standards, including the Paris Principles and General Observations of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of NHRIs (GANHRI). The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has served as the Secretariat of ANNI since its establishment in 2006.

More information at: https://forum-asia.org/anni/

About the CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar)

The CSO Working Group on Independent National Human Rights Institution (Burma/Myanmar) advocates for the establishment of a new NHRI—tentatively named the Union Human Rights Commission—to replace the illegitimate MNHRC which has aligned itself with the illegal military junta. The Working Group was previously known as the ‘CSO Working Group on MNHRC Reform.’ Currently, it consists of 21 Myanmar civil society organizations. From its founding in 2019 until the attempted coup in February 2021, the Working Group consistently advocated for an effective MNHRC that demonstrates a commitment to the international standards set forth in the Paris Principles.

More information at: https://www.facebook.com/WGonNHRIBurma

President Win Myint freed in broad Myanmar prisoner amnesty

April 18, 2026/in News

The pardon order applied to more than 4,500 prisoners, but it was not immediately clear how many people imprisoned for opposing military rule were included and there was no sign that 80-year-old former leader Aung San Suu Kyi would be freed as well.

Win Myint is Aung San Suu Kyi’s longtime loyalist and was elected as president in 2018. He served as president under State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi because the military-drafted constitution barred her from holding the presidency.

Both were arrested during the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Win Myint was later given 12-year combined prison sentences for several offenses, which was reduced to eight years in 2023.

Regime-run MRTV television reported that Win Myint, who was in a prison in Taungoo Township in Bago region, had received amnesty.

Outside Insein Prison in Yangon, buses carrying prisoners were welcomed by relatives and friends who had been waiting since early morning. Among those released was filmmaker Shin Daewe, who was sentenced to life imprisonment under a counterterrorism law in January 2024.

The amnesty comes a week after Min Aung Hlaing was sworn into office following an election that critics say was neither free nor fair and was orchestrated to keep the military’s iron grip on power.

Aung San Suu Kyi expected to be transferred to house arrest

Regime-run media in Myanmar said in addition to the 4,335 prisoners pardoned, nearly 180 foreigners would be released and deported.

If the freed prisoners reoffend, they will have to serve the rest of their original sentences in addition to any new sentence, according to the terms of their release. A separate report said death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, life sentences were reduced to 40 years and prison terms of less than 40 years were cut by one-sixth.

Under that measure, Aung San Suu Kyi’s 27-year sentence would be reduced by 4 1/2 years, leaving her with 22 1/2 years still to serve.

A senior military officer from the capital, Naypyidaw told the Associated Press on Friday that she will be transferred to house arrest as part of the clemency. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release information.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been serving a prison term on a variety of criminal convictions at an undisclosed location in Naypyidaw and has been moved to house arrest at least once in April 2024.

In his inauguration speech last week, Min Aung Hlaing said his government would implement amnesties that contribute to social reconciliation, justice and peace and support the country’s overall development.

Prisoner releases are common on holidays and other significant occasions in Myanmar.

Since the 2021 military coup, nearly 8,000 civilians have been killed and some 22,170 political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi, remain jailed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a rights monitoring group.

Total deaths in the ongoing conflict are estimated to be much higher.

Many political detainees have been held on incitement charges, a law widely used to arrest critics of the government or military and punishable by up to three years in prison.

Others have been prosecuted under a counterterrorism law that carries a potential death penalty and has been used to target political and armed opponents, journalists and other dissenters.

The human rights advocacy group Burma Campaign UK said in its statement on Friday that the slow, staged release of political prisoners is designed to gain positive publicity while making no real reforms.

“If the Burmese military regime were genuine about reform, they could release all 14,000 political prisoners today,” said the group’s advocacy and communications officer Minn Tent Bo, referring to the country’s former name.

“These people should not have been arrested in the first place. The Burmese military could stop arresting activists and could repeal all repressive laws. They haven’t done that.”

DVB News

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ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

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Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

[Open Letter] SEANF must remove membership of junta-controlled Myanmar National Human Rights Commission

MNHRC’s alignment with the military junta

Safeguarding SEANF’s credibility

ND Burma

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