Ex-MP, fellow NLD member charged under Natural Disaster Management Law for anti-coup protest

By DMG 26 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
26 July, 2021, Taungup 

Ex-National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker U Min Aung, a former Arakan State MP in Taungup Township, and a fellow party member were charged under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law at a court hearing on July 26. 

At Monday’s hearing, U Min Aung and Ko Thant Zin Phyo pleaded not guilty to the Natural Disaster Management Law charges, said Daw Theingi Maung, a lawyer representing the defendants. 

“The two men were sued under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law and they said they were not guilty. A list of witnesses was submitted to the judge and the next court hearing was scheduled for August 9,” the lawyer said. 

In addition to the Natural Disaster Management Law case, U Min Aung and Ko Thant Zin Phyo are also facing charges under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law at the Taungup Township Court. 

The defendants in both cases will be examined at the court hearing on August 9, Daw Theingi Maung added. 

U Min Aung and a handful of other protesters were arrested after they staged an anti-coup demonstration in Taungup Township on February 9. The Natural Disaster Management Law charge stems from their alleged violation of Covid-19 regulations limiting public gatherings. 

Police Captain Zaw Latt of the Taungup Township police filed the case against U Min Aung and Ko Thant Zin Phyo under the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. Daw Myint Thu Thin, deputy staff officer of the Thandwe Township Disaster and Protection Department, filed the lawsuit against the pair under the Natural Disaster Management Law.