Myanmar sentences lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi's party to death
- In Reports
- 08:01 PM, Jan 22, 2022
- Myind Staff
A Myanmar military tribunal sentenced a member of Aung San Suu Kyi's ousted party to death for terror offences on Friday, the junta said, ramping up a crackdown on the toppled leader's party.
Phyo Zeyar Thaw, a member of the NLD arrested in November, was sentenced to death for offences under the anti-terrorism act, the junta statement said.
Also 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.
Prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, was given the same sentence, the statement added.
"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 and hopes of the people... but protests and resistance grows daily, so does our determination to uproot this military," a Burmese human rights activist working at Burma Campaign UK also tweeted.
Al Jazeera reported that they were found guilty of offences involving explosives, bombings, and financing terrorism, but details were sketchy because of the blackout on proceedings.
Myanmar was plunged into crisis when army chief Min Aung Hlaing deposed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power for the military on February 1 last year.
The coup prompted mass protests and a civil disobedience movement, and thousands have been arrested in the military's attempt to crack down on dissent. Almost 1,500 civilians are estimated to have been killed, according to Al Jazeera.
Image courtesy: AFP
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