ANP vice chair for Taungup, two others face terrorism charges

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 11 May 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo | DMG
11 May, Taungup 

A case has been brought against the vice chair of the Arakan National Party for Taungup Township, U Wai Thaung, and two others under Section 50(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

The Taungup Township Court on May 11 remanded U Wai Thaung, as well as the chair of the Taungup Township Development Affairs Committee, U Zeya Kyaw, and one of his committee predecessors, U San Ngwe. 

“It is unfair. They served well, in the interests of the township,” U Wai Thaung said outside the township court on Monday, referring to his co-defendants. “Putting them in handcuffs and accusing them without solid evidence is an act of breaching human rights.” 

Details of the case brought against the men remained sketchy on Monday, but appeared to be connected in some way to recent threats directed at local National League for Democracy party members. 

U Zeya Kyaw said: “I am the current chair of the Township Development Affairs Committee. I think a group of people who do not want me as chair of the committee framed [me].” 

Section 50(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law is a sentencing provision for those found guilty of “acts of terrorism,” and stipulates a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison, with a maximum life sentence.  

The section used in the lawsuit is not pertinent to the defendants, said U Than Win, chair of the ANP in Taungup Township, who added that authorities bringing the charges “did it based on disinformation they were given, without doing any investigation.”