Student union leaders and 88 Generation activists freed in major amnesty as junta marks Peasants' Day

Mizzima

High-profile figures from Myanmar’s prominent student unions and the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society have been released as part of the military junta’s mass amnesty on 2 March, marking a significant clearance of political detainees ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session.

This pardon specifically targeted 7,337 individuals sentenced under the Counter-Terrorism Law and includes Zaw Wan Maung, a veteran 88 Generation activist who was serving a 10-year sentence at Insein Prison, as well as Ma Su Yee Lin (aka Lin Lin), the Chairwoman of the East Yangon University Students’ Union who had been handed a cumulative 13-year term. Other key student leaders confirmed released include Ko Htet Paing Soe, Vice-Chairman of the Yangon University of Economics Students’ Union, and Ko Hein Htet Wai Yan from the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University Students’ Union.

“Lin Lin’s sister, Ma Su Myat Htet, and her aunt, Ma Ni Moe Hlaing, were also released. We don’t know about Dee Yay (Paing Phyo Min) yet, but he might be included,” a member of the University Students’ Union told Mizzima.

Zaw Wan Maung from the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society was arrested by the junta on 19 September 2021 and sentenced to six years in Insein Prison under Section 505(a) and Section 17/1. Although his sentence was completed on 10 October 2025, he was further charged under Section 50(j) and sentenced to an additional 10 years.

Ma Su Yee Lin (aka Ma Lin Lin), Chairwoman of the East Yangon University Students’ Union and a member of the Women’s Alliance Burma (WAB), was arrested in December 2021. After being sentenced to three years by the Thingangyun Township Court under Section 505(a) in 2022, she faced further charges under Section 50(j) and was handed an additional 10-year sentence by the Yangon Eastern District Court on 29 February 2024.

Ko Hein Htet Wai Yan, former Executive General Secretary (Batch 15) of the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University Students’ Union, was arrested in November 2021. On 18 March 2022, the Hpa-an Township Court sentenced him to seven years of imprisonment with hard labour under Section 52(a).

Ko Htet Paing Soe, Vice-Chairman of the Yangon University of Economics Students’ Union (Ywarthargyi Campus), was arrested on 21 April 2022, while traveling on Lay Daung Kan Road in Thingangyun, Yangon. On 30 June 2023, the Yangon Eastern District Court sentenced him to 10 years in prison under Section 50(j).

“Ongoing cases in court and cases against absconders have been closed. It also includes those already serving sentences. We don’t know yet if everyone convicted will be released. I heard they will be released in three batches,” said a High Court lawyer.

The amnesty was issued under Section 401, Sub-section (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, meaning those released must sign an undertaking to serve the remainder of their pardoned sentences alongside any new penalty if they re-offend.