Kyaing’s arrest comes little more than a week after the junta announced the release of 9,002 prisoners as a goodwill gesture, perhaps targeting world opinion in anticipation of nationwide elections in 2010. Seven prisoners of conscience were among those set free, including U Win Tin, the country’s longest serving political prisoner. Tin, who was a key adviser to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, had served over 19 years in prison for his role in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Other political prisoners released included prominent writer Aung Soe Myint and four members of the opposition NLD.

The United States welcomed the move, as did U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. And while both called for the release of more political prisoners, in particular Aung San Suu Kyi, there was a sense that international pressure on the Burmese junta might be bearing fruit. A Sept. 24 U.N. statement said that the release of prisoners was one of the issues discussed by U.N. Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari during his August visit. Another statement on Sept. 23 said that one of the topics discussed by U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Tomas Ojea Quintana during his visit in early August was “the progressive release of all political prisoners starting with the elderly, those with health problems and long-serving prisoners.”

Not everyone, though, was impressed with this round of prisoner releases. Human rights groups and political groups in exile say that most of the released prisoners were common criminals, and that no timetable was announced for further releases of political prisoners. Noting the timing of the release, just a week after the beginning of the U.N.’s General Assembly in New York, they claim that the move was simply a stunt to deflect criticism from the regime. The U.S., Great Britain and France were expected to again raise the Burma issue in the General Assembly. Past releases of prisoners have resulted in international praise for the regime, and the generals have become adept at organizing releases at times of heightened tensions and criticism.

Critics also allege that the move was simply an attempt to garner much-needed international credibility before elections in 2010. The generals are keen to have the U.N.’s approval to add credibility to their so-called “roadmap to democracy,” the government’s plan to move from military rule to a constitutional democracy, albeit one with a strong role for the generals.

Human rights organizations, including the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also claim to have documentation that arrests of activists have continued unabated since the prisoner release. AAPP and Human Rights Watch claim that 39 political activists were arrested in August and September, with 21 sentenced to prison. AAPP claims fourteen activists have been arrested since Sept. 9 alone. Security reportedly has been very tight during August and September, the anniversaries of anti-government protests and violent crackdowns in 1988 and 2007.

Human rights activists say that more than 2,100 documented political prisoners remain in Burma’s prisons, including 136 Buddhist monks. Ethnic minority political groups say even these figures are low, claiming that they do not represent the thousands of ethnic minority prisoners arrested for alleged aid to or being members of political groups in rebellion against the government.

The U.N. itself voiced concern on Sept. 16 over the sentencing of labor activist U Thet Way to two years of hard labor despite agreements between the regime and the U.N.’s International Labor Organization (ILO) to safeguard individuals who report abuses of forced labor. Amnesty International has confirmed that one of the seven released on Sept. 23, U Win Htein, was re-arrested only a few hours after his release.

Burma’s most famous political prisoner, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest for almost 13 of the past 19 years. In May of this year, her house arrest was extended despite widespread calls for her release. Prominent student activist Min Ko Naing and ethnic Shan political leader Hkun Htun Oo also remain behind bars. No timeframe has been set by the regime for their releases. The arrest of Ohn Kyaing indicates that it will not be any time soon.

Brian McCartan is a journalist based in northern Thailand.