Myanmar’s military commutes jail terms of election officials

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-installed government says it has released the former chairman and another member of the country’s election commission who were jailed for alleged fraud in the 2020 general election. The military’s information office says former Union Election Commission Chairman Hla Thein and his colleague, Myint Naing, were freed on Oct. 25 to demonstrate leniency and to teach them how the state shows kindness and goodwill. Both were sentenced to three years in prison in July on charges of electoral fraud. The military has prosecuted hundreds of people associated with the former government and governing party since it seized power last year. Critics say the prosecutions are politically motivated.