Ko Jimmy(L) and Zeyar Thaw (R)
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Sat 22 January 2022:
A Myanmar military court has sentenced a lawmaker and prominent democracy activist from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) to death.
According to the generals, the NLD’s Phyo Zeyar Thaw, who was arrested in November, was sentenced to death for violating the country’s Counterterrorism Law.
The same sentence was given to prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, according to the statement, which included photos of both men.
They were found guilty of charges involving explosives, bombings, and financing terrorism, but details were sparse due to the proceedings being closed to the public. Nilar Thein, Min Yu’s wife, denied the allegations against her husband in October.
The Burmese military has handed out death sentences to prominent activists, Ko Jimmy & Zeyar Thaw. This may be the latest attempt by the military to crush dissent & hopes of the people… but protests & resistance grows daily, so does our determination to uproot this military. pic.twitter.com/0tXA4qpQu0
— Wai Hnin Pwint Thon (@MissWHPT) January 21, 2022
Phyo Zeyar Thaw, whose real name is Maung Kyaw, was arrested last November at an apartment in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, following a “tip-off and cooperation from dutiful citizens”, according to the military.
Known as a hip-hop pioneer, Phyo Zeyar Thaw was elected to parliament as part of the country’s move towards democracy in 2015.
The military said he had two pistols, ammunition and an M-16 rifle in his possession at the time of his arrest, and accused him of orchestrating several attacks on security forces.
Kyaw Min Yu, who rose to prominence during Myanmar’s 1988 student uprising was arrested in an overnight raid in October.
Myanmar was plunged into turmoil when army chief Min Aung Hlaing deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government and seized power for the military on February 1 of last year.
The military’s attempt to suppress dissent resulted in mass protests and a civil disobedience movement, and thousands have been arrested. It is estimated that nearly 1,500 civilians were killed.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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