Facebook user charged for criticizing Sagaing chief minister’s wife and aide

The unidentified individual has been charged under section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law

Police are trying to determine the identity of a Facebook user who has accused the wife of Sagaing region’s chief minister of wrongdoing. (Photo: Daw Chu Chu Facebook)

A case has been filed against a person who has been using their Facebook account to accuse the wife and the personal aide of Sagaing region’s chief minister of wrongdoing.

Myo Ko Ko, a personal aide to Chief Minister Dr Myint Naing, filed charges of defamation against the unidentified individual under section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law at the Monywa city police station.

The accused, who is known only by the Facebook user name “Ko Zaw Gyi,” has written a series of posts alleging that the chief minister’s wife Tint Tint (also known as Chu Chu) is guilty of unspecified abuses related to the tender of government contracts.

Speaking to Myanmar Now last week, the chief minister called the allegations “nonsense” and said that he had ordered an investigation.

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“Ko Zaw Gyi” accused Tint Tint and Myo Ko Ko of being personally involved in the tender of contracts by the construction ministry’s department of rural road development.

In a post dated December 3, “Ko Zaw Gyi” urged State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to intervene in the matter.

“Mother Suu, could you please control aunty Chu? It's heartbreaking to see the NLD government involved in a conspiracy like one of the military regime’s plots,” the Facebook user wrote.

The account used to makes the accusations has not been visible since December 9.

The posts appear to be related to one of three tenders issued in October and November for road and bridge projects, although it wasn’t clear which one.

Zaw Htet, the Amyotha Hluttaw MP for Pale township constituency 1, declined to comment because he said he didn’t know whether the accuser was someone with knowledge of the tendering process or simply a failed bidder.

Aye Aye Mu, the Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Kale township, also didn’t want to make any remarks on the matter, but acknowledged that the case had attracted public attention.

“I have seen some posts online,” she said. “I don’t think the chief minister would have anything to do with this, but I can’t say for sure whether aunty Chu is involved in this case. I don’t want to make any further remarks.”

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Junta arrests two more journalists in Naypyitaw

Those arrested include a BBC reporter and a former Mizzima correspondent.

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 19, 2021

Photojournalists take cover near the entrance of a monastery where military supporters gathered to attack protesters and media in Yangon on February 18 (EPA-EFE/LYNN BO BO)

A BBC journalist and a former Mizzima News reporter were arrested by men believed to be plainclothes officers in Naypyitaw on Friday afternoon, a family member confirmed.

BBC Burmese journalist Aung Thura was in front of the Dekkhina District court to report on a hearing for National League for Democracy patron Win Htein when he was arrested. Former Mizzima correspondent Than Htike Aung was with him at the time of the arrest.

No further details of the arrest or the reporters’ detention were known at the time of reporting, according to Aung Thura’s relative.

“I saw some plainclothes officers dragging away a person in trousers into a car,” lawyer Min Min Soe, who was near the court at the time, told Myanmar Now. The man she saw is believed to be Than Htike Aung.

“Two other officers in plainclothes were hassling another individual in a paso [traditional sarong for men] and glasses,” she said, referring to Aung Thura. “It was quite a scene so I don’t know what happened next.”

BBC News issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying that they are "doing everything [they] can" to find Aung Thura, who they described as being taken away by unidentified men.

“We call on the authorities to help locate him and confirm that he is safe,” the statement said.

As of March 16, a total of 38 journalists had been arrested or targeted for arrest since the February 1 coup. The latest arrests of the BBC and former Mizzima journalists push this number up to 40.

Only 22 of these reporters have been released. Ten journalists have been charged with violating Section 505(a) of the penal code, which has been used against people who are seen as causing fear, spreading fake news, or agitating government employees. Under recent amendments to the law, the charges come with a three-year prison sentence if convicted.

Online news website The Irrawaddy has also been charged by the junta as violating the same statute for showing “disregard” for the armed forces in their reporting of the ongoing anti-regime protests.

Five publications, including Myanmar Now and Mizzima had their offices raided and their publishing licenses revoked earlier this month by the regime.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the BBC's statement, which was not available at the original time of publishing.

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Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

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KIA attacks police bases in Hpakant

The offensives come in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 18, 2021

A KIA soldier watches from an outpost in Kachin state in this undated file photo (Kachinwave)

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched attacks against police bases in the jade mining region of Hpakant on Thursday morning, a local resident told Myanmar Now.

The attacks targeted police battalions where soldiers were stationed near Nam Maw village in the Seik Muu village tract.

“There are Myanmar police battalions around Nam Maw,” a resident said. At least three bases were attacked, he added.

A 41-year-old civilian in Seik Muu village injured his left hand during the clash, the Kachin-based Myitkyina News Journal reported.

The KIA has launched several offensives against the coup regime’s forces recently. Fighting has also been reported in Mogaung and Injangyang this month.

Some 200 people fled the Injangyang villages of Gway Htaung and Tan Baung Yan on Monday after the KIA launched an offensive against the military there.

The offenses began in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina. The KIA has warned the junta not to harm anti-coup protesters.

Myanmar Now

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

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Four shot dead, five injured during junta attack on protesters in Kalay on Wednesday

The coup regime’s forces took the injured people away and locals do not know their whereabouts

Myanmar Now

Published on Mar 18, 2021

Kalay residents move the body of a man who was shot dead on Wednesday (Supplied)

Four young men were killed and five people were injured in the town of Kalay in Sagaing region on Wednesday as protesters continued their fight to topple the regime despite daily massacres across the country aimed at terrorizing them into submission.

The Tahan Protest Group gathered in the town at around 10am and police and soldiers began shooting. One young man was shot dead on the spot as he tried to help people who were trapped amid gunfire, residents told Myanmar Now.

The regime’s forces also shot at and chased fleeing protesters along roads and through narrow alleys, a resident said.

“The crowd of protesters dispersed but one person was shot dead while trying to rescue those trapped in the protest site,” the resident added.

As the crowd dispersed, a man riding a motorcycle was shot outside a branch of KBZ Bank. “He also died,” the resident said.

Despite the murders, protesters gathered again in the afternoon around 4pm. Police and soldiers started shooting again and killed two people.

“They were shot dead while trying to set up barricades at the protest site. They were shot while trying to obstruct the army’s way as the army troops chased and shot the trapped protestors,” the resident said.

The two who were killed in the morning were identified as Salai Kyong Lian Kye O, who was 25, and Kyin Khant Man, who was 27 and had three children. The identities of the other two have not yet been confirmed.

Five people were also injured and then taken away. Locals said they did not know where they had been taken.