Former ANP youth leader’s trial delayed by prosecution witnesses’ absence

By Admin 22 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 August 2024, Sittwe

The Mayangon District Court in Yangon will reportedly question two prosecution witnesses next month in a case against Ko Gambari aka Khin Win Maung, a former youth leader of the Arakan National Party (ANP), who has been charged under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

The two prosecution witnesses failed to show up for proceedings before the Mayangon District Court on August 21, with the hearing reset to September 4, according to sources close to the accused.

“Five out of seven prosecution witnesses have been examined. Two prosecution witnesses failed to appear at the court hearing on August 21, so the next hearing has been rescheduled for September 4,” said one of those sources.

Ko Gambari was arrested on the night of May 31 at a house in Yangon’s Hlaing Township, where he was taking shelter after fleeing fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State. He was arrested for allegedly funding an unlawful organisation, according to sources.

Ko Gambari is currently being held at Insein Prison in Yangon.

Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the regime has been arresting people on a variety of dubious charges, especially targeting youths, social activists, and those with political affiliations.

“The regime wants to destroy mainly the young people. Young people were at the head of the anti-dictatorship movement, and now young people are resisting the military dictator in various ways. The regime does not like young people very much, so they are arresting them in various ways,” said a youth activist.

A native of Pauktaw Township, Ko Gambari is a former leader of the youth wing of the ANP’s central executive committee. He is also a social activist who has worked to help people displaced by the conflict in Arakan State.

If found guilty, he faces 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.