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Resistance forces have arrested a member of the NLD’s central committee, accusing him of collaborating with the junta, however his defenders say he possible had no alternative after the Myanmar army kidnapped his household.
By FRONTIER
Tabayin is certainly one of many townships in Sagaing Area the place anti-junta armed teams have managed to ascertain a degree of rural management for the reason that 2021 army coup sparked a civil warfare. That is obvious from the various Individuals’s Defence Power checkpoints that dot even main roads within the space.
At one such checkpoint, on the street connecting Tabayin with neighbouring Shwebo Township, PDFs detained a high-profile determine on June 8 this yr. However this time the goal was not a army officer, a junta civil servant or a paramilitary militiaman. It was an elected MP from the Nationwide League for Democracy, Myanmar’s predominant pro-democracy political get together which was overthrown within the coup.
A local of Tabayin’s Sai Pyin village, U Win Myint Aung served because the township get together chair and a member of the NLD’s central committee, the second strongest physique within the get together after the central govt committee. He stood for election in 1990, 2015 and 2020, successful a seat in parliament every time, though the army solely accepted the leads to 2015.
Ko Myo*, a PDF member who was current through the arrest, mentioned Win Myint Aung was detained by members of the Tabayin and Shwebo PDFs after they discovered incriminating proof on his cell phone.
“We discovered on his cellphone that Win Myint Aung had despatched experiences to the Northwestern Regional Army Command about his actions and intelligence in regards to the PDFs,” claimed Ko Myo. He mentioned the proof included communications with a military main and a fee from the army, however acknowledged he didn’t personally see the content material on Win Myint Aung’s cellphone.
These accusations are way more severe than what was initially reported. Native outlet The Irrawaddy mentioned in June that he was discovered with a signed pledge to not take part in anti-regime actions – one thing political prisoners are routinely compelled to signal upon their launch – and paperwork asking the army to offer help to folks affected by Cyclone Mocha.
Win Myint Aung was arrested together with his brother-in-law U Zaw Wang, and Ko Myo mentioned each have been transferred to the police pressure below the Nationwide Unity Authorities’s dwelling affairs ministry that very same day. Zaw Wang was launched a number of days later however Win Myint Aung stays in custody. The NUG is a parallel administration appointed by elected lawmakers deposed within the coup.
Ko Myo denied experiences that the arrest was particularly ordered by the NUG forward of time.
“Whereas looking out him on the checkpoint, we discovered details about the army council, so he was arrested.”
This wasn’t the primary time Win Myint Aung made the information for seemingly unfavorable causes. In March, he was accused of becoming a member of a delegation of NLD members to persuade jailed get together chief Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to help the army regime’s plans for an election. Few imagine the polls might be free and truthful, and as an alternative count on them to be an empty train to assist consolidate the army’s grip on energy.
For this alleged infraction, Win Myint Aung and his fellow get together members have been expelled from the NLD by the central working committee – an emergency get together management physique established after the coup as a result of so many members of the CEC had been arrested.
Win Myint Aung seemingly by no means publicly responded to the allegations or expulsion, however different members of the delegation disputed the CWC’s authority to take action, given it’s an advert hoc physique with out Aung San Suu Kyi’s official blessing.
Below strain
However why would a lifelong NLD member, who served time as a political prisoner, all of a sudden start collaborating with the army he had struggled in opposition to for many years?
Win Myint Aung was arrested by the PDFs whereas returning to Tabayin after visiting his brother U Kyaw San Linn within the junta-run Shwebo Jail – the identical jail the place Win Myint Aung was jailed by the earlier army junta in 2003 for his political actions.
His brother has been in jail since August 2021, when the army regime raided the household dwelling in Sai Pyin village, presumably in the hunt for Win Myint Aung. The NLD lawmaker wasn’t current, so the junta did what it typically does – it arrested his relations and held them hostage.
Win Myint Aung’s spouse Daw Khin Ohn Myint and their 30-year-old son have been detained alongside together with his brother Kyaw San Linn. Win Myint Aung later turned himself in, spending round 10 days in army custody and securing the discharge of his spouse and youngster, however his brother stays imprisoned to this present day.
“Is it potential {that a} politician whose household was taken hostage by the army is willingly cooperating with the army?” requested U Aye Win*, a relative of Win Myint Aung.
“I believe he might have needed to contact the army council attributable to circumstances past his management. We wish to request the NUG to noticeably examine this case and supply assurances concerning his security,” Aye Win added.
An NLD CEC member, who commented on the situation of anonymity, mentioned the army has a well-established “sample” of abducting relations and torturing political prisoners.
He additionally insisted that Win Myint Aung has confirmed his loyalty to the get together over a few years.
“I don’t imagine he’s untrue to the get together or the individuals who help him,” he mentioned. “However there’s a small chance that he was coerced by the army council and shared some data in a scenario the place he was not in a position to refuse.”
Win Zaw Oo*, an NLD supporter from Win Myint Aung’s native Sai Pyin village, demanded extra transparency from the NUG.
“Win Myint Aung was a member of parliament whom we trusted and revered,” he mentioned. “As somebody who voted for Win Myint Aung, I need transparency about his arrest.”
Win Zaw Oo mentioned supporters felt helpless when Win Myint Aung was briefly detained by the junta, but it surely shouldn’t be that manner with the NUG.
“Because the NUG is the folks’s authorities, I imagine we should always have the ability to request that this case is public,” he mentioned. “Though we concern the army council, I don’t suppose we should always need to concern the NUG and PDFs.”
The NLD CEC member agreed, saying they’re accustomed to the army regime refusing to launch details about prisoners, however the NUG and PDFs should be held to the next commonplace.
“It’s not a very good signal that two months after his arrest there has nonetheless been no official announcement. I don’t imply they need to situation an official assertion simply because it’s a former NLD MP. Even whether it is an unusual citizen, an identical assertion can be essential,” he mentioned.
Aye Win additionally mentioned that Win Myint Aung stays devoted to the trail of nonviolent resistance, which the NLD adopted for many years, one other potential level of disagreement between him and the NUG. At the moment’s rebellion has embraced armed battle, and it stays unclear how Aung San Suu Kyi would really feel about this shift.
Aye Win mentioned Khin Ohn Myint begged Win Myint Aung to stop involvement in politics after her arrest.
“Since auntie was arrested by the army, she’s been very afraid,” he mentioned. However he added that the household feels caught in the midst of two opposing forces, neither of which appear to acknowledge the complexity of the scenario.
“Now that uncle has been arrested by the PDF, auntie isn’t certain what to do. I don’t know the place to search for assist and I’m frightened,” mentioned Aye Win, who added Khin Ohn Myint can do nothing however pray.
A check of the NUG’s judiciary
NUG spokesperson U Nay Telephone Latt advised Frontier Win Myint Aung is below home arrest in an undisclosed location and is in good well being. However he confirmed little sympathy for his predicament.
“Our Nationwide Unity Authorities has already declared the army council as a terrorist organisation for the reason that early days of the Spring Revolution, so anybody who cooperates with the army council or gives data to the army council is prone to be prosecuted below the Counter-Terrorism Act,” he defined.
Nay Telephone Latt denied that Win Myint Aung’s expulsion from the get together performed a job in his arrest, or that it was ordered by the NUG.
“Win Myint Aung’s case has nothing to do with him being a member of the NLD get together, it’s about whether or not or not he cooperated with the army council.”
An nameless member of the Shwebo District PDF mentioned Win Myint Aung confessed to cooperating with the army council. He mentioned proof from his cellphone can be shared in courtroom, however couldn’t be shared with Frontier at the moment.
Nay Telephone Latt mentioned the NUG’s police pressure requested the Ministry of Justice for recommendation on which sections of the Prison Code he could possibly be prosecuted below and proceed with the investigation.
“We all know that the MOJ has despatched a authorized advice to the Individuals’s Police Division, which is below the Ministry of Dwelling Affairs,” he mentioned, however added that he didn’t know the specifics of the advice.
Lawyer Ko Aung Kyaw Min* mentioned this case is a check of the NUG’s judicial system, and up to now the parallel physique isn’t dwelling as much as skilled requirements
“Win Myint Aung’s case will mirror the NUG’s means to course of justice, so I’d advocate that they not do that carelessly,” he mentioned.
Aung Kyaw Min referred to as for the NUG to situation an official assertion, announce his authorized rights, and let him meet together with his household. He additionally mentioned the size of the interrogation and investigation course of ought to be publicly declared forward of time.
“If he’s discovered to be not responsible, they should have plans in place for his private security,” he added.
However Win Zaw Oo, from Sai Pyin village, mentioned the PDFs don’t have a very good observe document on this.
He mentioned going by way of a PDF checkpoint is a terrifying expertise, and the personnel are sometimes impatient and disrespectful.
“Most individuals don’t dare complain as a result of they may simply accuse you of being a Pyusawhti [pro-military militiaman] or army informer,” he mentioned. Win Zaw Oo mentioned final yr, one other Sai Pyin resident was arrested on accusations of being an informer.
“But it surely turned out that it was false data. The PDF didn’t even apologise and the sufferer was too afraid to demand an apology.”
* signifies using a pseudonym for safety causes
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