Terrorism case moves forward against Taungup social activist

By DMG 10 Mar 2022

DMG Newsroom
10 March 2022, Taungup

The case against Ko Min Ko Oo, chair of the Taungup Township Youth Network in Arakan State, who has been arrested on suspicion of having ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF), was examined for basis at a court hearing on Thursday, according to his lawyer. 

Ko Min Ko Oo was taken from his home on December 14 and a lawsuit has been opened against him by Police Captain Zaw Latt, head of the Taungup Township police station, under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. 

The two sides argued whether the case should be charged officially or not during Thursday’s hearing and the court officially charged Ko Min Ko Oo under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 14, said U Khin Maung Sein, the defendant’s father. 

Ko Min Ko Oo is a social activist and since his arrest, family members have insisted that he is wrongfully accused. 

Myanmar’s military regime has charged at least 10 people from Arakan State’s Taungup, Thandwe and Mrauk-U townships for allegedly providing financial aid to the PDF, or otherwise having illegal ties to the anti-regime militia group. 

Author Ko Min Di Par from Mrauk-U Township, who was arrested on suspicion of financing the PDF and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour on February 25.