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After more than five years in prison, Myanmar’s overthrown civilian president, Win Myint, was released in April by the country’s new president: Min Aung Hlaing, the former commander in chief who seized power in a 2021 coup and recently rebranded himself as a civilian leader, in name at least.

The United Nations, the United States, and others had called for the release of Win Myint since he was detained during the coup, as well for the release of former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was instead transferred to house arrest. When her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was elected in 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi was constitutionally barred from serving as president. She handpicked Win Myint in 2018, after the previous president stepped down, and he let her effectively govern in his stead.

After more than five years in prison, Myanmar’s overthrown civilian president, Win Myint, was released in April by the country’s new president: Min Aung Hlaing, the former commander in chief who seized power in a 2021 coup and recently rebranded himself as a civilian leader, in name at least.

The United Nations, the United States, and others had called for the release of Win Myint since he was detained during the coup, as well for the release of former State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was instead transferred to house arrest. When her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was elected in 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi was constitutionally barred from serving as president. She handpicked Win Myint in 2018, after the previous president stepped down, and he let her effectively govern in his stead.

Though there was a time amid Myanmar’s civil war when the military regime appeared on shaky ground, these concessions likely indicate that Min Aung Hlaing feels more secure than at any other point since the coup. Win Myint’s release followed a sham election in which the NLD was barred from competing.

“I’m really happy for President U Win Myint and his family. But I think he shouldn’t have been a prisoner of the junta for even one second,” said Sasa, a dissident who previously served........

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