The Myanmar navy regime has sentenced 4 people to at the very least 95 years in jail in latest months after junta-controlled courts decided that they had been concerned within the armed resistance motion, in response to sources acquainted with their circumstances.
Amongst them was an ex-parliamentarian from the Nationwide League for Democracy (NLD), whose elected authorities was ousted within the February 2021 coup. Fifty-two-year-old Win Myint Hlaing beforehand represented Taungdwingyi Township within the native legislature of Magway Area, now a resistance stronghold.
The three different people had reportedly been members of native guerrilla teams. Aung Khant Oo, 29, additionally from Magway, was within the Beikthano Folks’s Defence Army, and Kyaw Thet, 30, and Hnin Maung, 36, had been energetic in a resistance group primarily based in Mandalay Area’s Wundwin Township.
All had been convicted of a number of counts of violating the Counterterrorism Legislation this month in addition to in October, and handed jail phrases starting from 95 to 225 years—the longest sentences delivered by the junta because the coup.
Lawmaker Win Myint Hlaing was sentenced to a complete of 148 years for 14 separate convictions within the Magway District Courtroom on October 30. Whereas the main points surrounding the circumstances stay unclear, the 4 sections of the counterterrorism statute beneath which he was charged—50a, 52a, 51c and 54—are associated to assaults on “state-owned services,” the “recruitment” of resistance fighters, or the usage of bombs.
He had already been handed 25 years in jail for 5 different convictions in April, together with incitement beneath Part 505a of the Penal Code. His complete sentence was 173 years on the time of reporting.
Win Myint Hlaing participated in anti-dictatorship demonstrations within the wake of the coup and went into hiding after the navy authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in late February. He was apprehended in November final yr in Yatsauk (Lawksawk), southern Shan State, alongside along with his brother, Zaw Zaw.
He was subsequently interrogated at a navy facility within the Shan State capital of Taunggyi for round two weeks earlier than being transferred to Magway Area’s central jail the place he’s at present detained.
A supply near Win Myint Hlaing’s household advised Myanmar Now on the situation of anonymity that a lot of the terror fees filed in opposition to him had been associated to incidents that occurred whereas he was already in junta custody.
“He was accused of involvement in incidents, such because the killing of regime informants and policemen, which occurred after his arrest. He was charged together with these arrested after him,” the household buddy stated.
Citing court docket sources, she defined that the choose on the Magway District Courtroom who heard his circumstances was reportedly “stunned” when Win Myint Hlaing’s defence lawyer emphasised that his consumer was already in detention when the assaults occurred.
The navy additionally accused him of main the Beikthano Folks’s Defence Army, in response to a junta assertion launched after his arrest.
Two months after the navy captured Win Myint Hlaing, Aung Khant Oo—who was a member of the resistance group—was arrested by junta troopers.
Aung Khant Oo was later charged with the unlawful use of explosives, along with a number of anti-terrorism and incitement fees. After almost 10 months in detention awaiting trial, he was sentenced to a complete of 203 years on November 15 by the identical regime-controlled Magway District Courtroom.
A buddy and fellow member of the Beikthano resistance group, advised Myanmar Now that Aung Khant Oo was additionally accused of involvement in assaults on junta targets which occurred after his arrest.
“Included in his circumstances had been incidents that occurred in February [2022] and later. That’s why his sentences grew to become so lengthy. There have been greater than 10 circumstances,” Aung Khant Oo’s buddy stated.
Myanmar Now could be unable to confirm his claims independently.
In the meantime, Kyaw Thet and Hnin Maung, from Wundwin, had been reportedly arrested in January this yr and had been each handed exhaustive jail phrases in addition to demise sentences for his or her involvement within the Mandalay guerrilla group.
Whereas particulars surrounding their circumstances stay unclear, Kyaw Thet has been ordered to serve 225 years and Hnin Maung 95 years, along with being sentenced to demise, in response to Kyar Ye, a fellow resistance fighter.
Each had been initially held in Meiktila Jail, however transferred to a bigger facility in Myingyan the place inmates dealing with phrases of greater than a decade are ceaselessly incarcerated.
A veteran defence lawyer advised Myanmar Now that judges are prohibited from handing down separate sentences for violations of the identical terrorism fees for acts allegedly dedicated inside the identical yr.
“It’s instilling concern into the individuals. However the individuals are not afraid. These [judges] who’ve handed down these sentences will find yourself with a nasty popularity,” stated the veteran lawyer.
Sources near Win Myint Hlaing and Aung Khant Oo stated that their relations had been in a position to meet with them earlier than they had been sentenced, however haven’t seen them because the convictions.
The household buddy of the previous MP stated that he was in good well being regardless that he required common remedy for hypertension.
“I hope to reunite with him quickly as I consider our revolution will win,” she stated.
The buddy of Aung Khant Oo advised Myanmar Now that he had inspired his fellow resistance fighters to proceed their battle.
“He stated that he was ‘hanging in there’ and urged us to maintain preventing.”
In response to information collected by the monitoring group Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners, almost 13,000 individuals in Myanmar had been behind bars on the time of reporting, with some awaiting trial and others already convicted. Eighty-six have reportedly been sentenced to demise.
Extra reporting by Aung Naing
