Junta releases celebrities accused of opposing its regime

By DMG 02 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
2 March 2022, Sittwe

Myanmar’s military regime on Wednesday released some detained celebrities after they reportedly signed legal documents pledging that they would not participate in any anti-regime activities in the future, a source close to Yangon’s Insein Prison told DMG.

Among those released were actor Pyay Ti Oo and his wife, the actress Eaindra Kyaw Zin, as well as actor Lu Min, model-actor Paing Takhon, director Wyne, and beauty blogger Win Min Than, according to the source.

“I heard Pyi Ti Oo and his wife, director Wyne and model Paing Takhon would be released today. I don’t know exactly the reason for their release,” the source told DMG.

They had been detained in Insein Prison for months and given three years in prison for incitement under Section 505(b) of Penal Code for their role in mass rallies and civil disobedience activities in opposition to the military’s February 2021 coup.

Other local media outlets reported that the regime had only dropped an incitement case against beauty blogger Win Min Than, and that she remained in prison and still faces a case under the Unlawful Associations Act.

Regime spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun told the media that the regime had pardoned five artists, a beauty blogger and a Malaysian national.

A number of celebrities were declared “wanted” for opposing the military, which seized power from the elected government on February 1, 2021. Some were handed jail sentences and others fled warrants for their arrest.

Actor Ye Tike, pop singer Po Po and reggae singer Saw Poe Kwar are among the celebrities still being held by the regime. Last month, the regime sealed off the houses of some actors and other well-known figures accused of taking part in anti-regime activism.