Student activist, former reporter in Bago Region get prison sentences on political charges

By DMG 11 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
11 March 2022, Thayawady, Bago Region

A former chairman of the Letpadan Township Students’ Union in Thayawady Township, Bago Region, and an ex-reporter have reportedly been sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Thayawady Court on two political counts.

Ko Aung Kaday Soe, former chairman of the Letpadan Township Students’ Union, was arrested in May 2021 for protesting against the military dictatorship in Letpadan and charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and Section 124(a) of the Penal Code.

He was sentenced to three years in prison by the Thayawady District Court under Section 505(a), an incitement provision, on December 16, 2021. He was sentenced to an additional eight years and three months in prison under Section 124(a) of the Penal Code on March 11, a source close to Ko Aung Kaday Soe told DMG.

“Ko Aung Kaday Soe was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison by the Thayawady District Court under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, and Section 124(a) of the Penal Code on Friday,” the source said.

Section 124 of the Penal Code covers treason, and was amended by the junta not long after it seized power in February 2021.

According to Human Rights Watch, “Section124A, which already criminalized comments that ‘bring into hatred or contempt’ or ‘excite disaffection against’ the government, was expanded to include comments relating to the defense services and defense services personnel, effectively criminalizing any criticism of the military or military personnel.”

Ko Nyein Chan Wai, a former reporter for Bago Weekly Journal, was taken from his home in Khamone Seik village, Letpadan Township, by junta soldiers and sentenced to three years in prison under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code in the first week of December. The Thayawady District Court also sentenced him to eight years and three months in prison under Section 124(a) of the Penal Code on March 11.

Ko Nyein Chan Wai’s wife was also arrested in December.

“These arbitrary arrests, prosecutions and imprisonments are among the worst [outcomes] of the military coup,” said Ko Ye, a politician. “In the current situation, anyone who opposes the military junta can be arrested and imprisoned, and the people need to be very careful.”