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Junta sentences ex-dictator’s son-in-law to prison for criticising military

He was charged with spreading propaganda on social media and viewed by the regime as “undermining the state's peace and stability”

Myanmar’s junta recently announced that Dr. Nay Soe Maung, son-in-law of former dictator Than Shwe, has been sentenced to three years in prison after his arrest last year for criticising the military regime, according to junta-backed news outlets.

The military arrested Dr. Nay Soe Maung, a 68-year-old former lieutenant colonel and ex-rector of the University of Public Health, last October while he was enroute to the funeral of Mandalay’s former chief minister.

He was charged with spreading propaganda on social media, and viewed by the military as “undermining the state’s peace and stability.” The regime sentenced him under Section 505(a) of Myanmar’s Penal Code. 

Myanmar’s junta introduced Section 505(a) of the Penal Code to criminalise criticism of military officials and soldiers. The law has been widely used to silence dissent and punish political opponents.

On Facebook, Dr. Nay Soe Maung expressed his condolences following the death of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, former Vice Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and ex-Chief Minister of Mandalay, who passed away while serving a lengthy prison sentence.

In a post, he shared a poignant reflection:

“In your next life, I hope you are born in a country where people are treated as human beings and can contribute to humanity’s well-being.”

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