The principal of a primary school in Mogok township has been charged under the Unlawful Associations Act for allegedly acting as a Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) informer.
The charges against 30-year-old schoolteacher Than Than Myo were laid at the Mogok township court on Monday following her arrest on December 27 by a major in the armed forces.
Maung Maung Aye, the deputy police chief for Mandalay region, said that Than Than Myo was on duty at her school in Manna, a village in Mogok township, at the time of her arrest.
He added that her mobile phone records showed that she had been in contact with an officer in the TNLA repeatedly over the past year.
“She fell in love with the deputy commander of the TNLA, so when they asked her for information about the Tatmadaw, she gave it to them,” he said, adding that others were also involved and would likely face charges as well.
A relative of the accused woman said that her family had been unable to contact her since her arrest.
“She is a civil servant who worked hard to become a school principal. How much has she contributed to the state? I want them to take these facts into account,” said the relative, Mai Gon Zar.
In a statement on Facebook, the police said that action was taken against Than Than Myo after it was discovered that she had informed the TNLA about Tatmadaw troop movements and camp positions and provided them with food and other goods.
According to deputy police chief Maung Maung Aye, many people have been prosecuted for providing information to the TNLA, including three who have been jailed under the Telecommunications Law.
According to local sources, at least 10 people have been detained in Mogok on suspicion of reporting to the TNLA and being involved in kidnapping.
