The military released the officials from the election sub-commissions in various regions and states on the morning of March 17 after they had been held in detention since the second week of February.

Some commission officials said all the detainees from the election sub-commissions in the regions and states including Yangon Region, Mandalay Region and Kayin State were assumed to be released.  

“They didn’t do anything to us such as making us sign confessions. We were released. It is said that all those from the election commission from across the country would be released. Those from other regions such as Kayah State have arrived back home. We are 88 all together in Yangon Region,” said U Khin Maung Win, chairman of Yangon West District Election Sub-commission.

He said they were detained for over a month regarding the 2020 general election but they didn’t face any interrogation.

“The Union Election Commission (UEC) and the region sub-commission came to inspect. Together with their own departmental staff, they conducted checks in the townships. We had to sit beside them. We were not assigned any duty. We didn’t have to give our signatures. That’s all,” he added.

Being told that there would a meeting at Yangon Region Parliament on February 11, chairmen and secretaries of district and township election sub-commissions in Yangon Region except Coco Island Township were summoned and taken to Bayintnaung Transit Center overnight for detention.  

“We didn’t know anything. More than a month has passed while we ate and slept. There was no announcement. But today, we were told that we were to go home. No one was called for questioning,” said Zaw Win, chairman of Tharkayta Township Election Sub-commission.

 According to commission members in Yangon Region, they were allowed access to phones and internet during their detention. But, some states did not allow the detainees to use radio, TV or phone.

Those detailed commission officials from Kayin State and Mandalay Region were also released today.  

“We were not asked any question. But we had to tell about our opinion about the election. We didn’t have many mistakes in our region,” said Htay Maung, chair of Kawkareik District Election Sub-commission.

The then UEC chair Hla Thein and some members as well as officials from region and state election sub-commissions were detained in February. The newly-formed UEC is conducting checks on the voter lists used in the 2020 election.

The new commission has announced that there were irregularities and malpractices over voter list making, advanced coting and voting on the Election Day.