Myanmar Must Release All Political Prisoners Before Elections.

The article focuses on the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's last freely elected leader. It highlights her current imprisonment under harsh conditions, the junta's plans to hold illegitimate elections to consolidate power, and the widespread violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the military regime led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. The piece calls for international and regional actors, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to refuse recognition of the junta and instead engage with Myanmar's legitimate democratic representatives, such as the exiled National Unity Government (NUG). It also emphasizes the need to dismantle the military's financial networks linked to illicit activities and to secure the release of political prisoners to restore peace and justice in Myanmar.