Five NLD members held in Mandalay’s Obo Prison on terror charges

Five female members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who disappeared shortly before the devastating earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28 have been sent to Mandalay’s Obo Prison on terror charges, according to sources. The women were travelling from Mandalay to Monywa by car when friends lost contact with them just hours before the quake, a man close to the family of one of the detainees told Myanmar Now on Thursday. “When they disappeared on the day of the big earthquake, everyone was very worried. Later we heard they were arrested. But we couldn’t contact them, so we remained anxious,” he said. It was later learned that the women had been arrested at a checkpoint located between the villages of Nyaungpinwun and None on the Sagaing-Monywa road. They were held at a local police station for several days and then transferred to an interrogation centre in the town of Sagaing, according to the man. Months later, it emerged that they had been charged under Myanmar’s Counter-Terrorism Law. However, it was unclear what they are accused of doing. The women were identified as 45-year-old Ohmmar Win, who is a township-level secretary for the NLD, her 25-year-old daughter Ei Thu Aye, and three other party members—Yi Yi Win, Khin Phyu Phyu Aung, and Hpway Thant Phyu. It wasn’t until this month that the women’s families were informed that they were being held at Mandalay’s Obo Prison. Under the anti-terror law, they face sentences ranging from one year to life, with the death penalty imposed in some cases. The regime has not issued any statement regarding the arrests and detention of the five women. An NLD official from Mandalay Region said that there are concerns about the health of Ohmmar Win, who suffers from chronic arthritis and requires medication. “Since her arrest, she hasn’t been able to take her medicine, so we’ve heard that her health has deteriorated. Since no verdict has been delivered yet, she’s not allowed to get medical treatment,” she said. There have also been reports that Ohmmar Win and her daughter were placed in solitary confinement for taking part in activities to commemorate the anniversary on August 8 of the 1988 uprising against military rule. Since seizing power in February 2021, the regime has arrested many Mandalay residents, including, monks, students, doctors and others opposed to its rule. Nationwide, the junta has imprisoned a total of 29,597 people since the coup, of whom 22,350 remain in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Five NLD members held in Mandalay’s Obo Prison on terror charges

The five women had disappeared shortly before the deadly earthquake that devastated central Myanmar in March

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