Conflicts & War

Myanmar junta arrests prominent spokesperson of ousted ruling party

Bangkok Desk, Mar 19 (efe-epa).- Myanmar’s military junta has arrested Kyi Toe, a prominent spokesperson of the ousted ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party who reported on the situation of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi following the Feb. 1 coup.

Kyi Toe was arrested on Thursday night, NLD member Phyo Zeya Thaw said on social media.

At least two NLD party members have died in custody since the coup and at least one of them was suspected to have been tortured.

The military has intensified its offensive against Suu Kyi and NLD members at large in recent days.

On Thursday, she faced more corruption charges from the junta. Suu Kyi is already accused of importing walkie-talkies, using illegal communications equipment, violating the natural disaster law, and causing “fear and alarm.”

The military junta also recently charged three politicians linked to the NLD with treason.

These include Mahn Win Khaing Than, appointed as acting vice-president by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), formed by some of the elected civilian lawmakers who could not formally take their seats due to the military taking control on Feb. 1; Dr Sasa, appointed special envoy to the UN by the CRPH, and Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, in office before the coup.

As of Thursday, some 2,258 people had been arrested since the coup, of which 320 have been released, according to advocacy group, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

More than 220 people have died, including at least three on Thursday, amid violent crackdowns on weeks-long peaceful anti-coup protests across the country.

Protesters demand that the military restore democracy, recognize the results of the November election and release all those detained.

The military has justified taking power on grounds of alleged electoral fraud in November’s elections, in which international observers did not detect any wrongdoing, and which resulted in a landslide victory for Suu Kyi’s NLD. EFE-EPA

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