Three members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party have been charged with terrorism by a military regime court, after being accused of planning to bomb a power station in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw.
U Khin Mg Tint and two other NLD members were arrested on October 17 at their homes in Naypyitaw’s Pobbathiri Township, sources close to U Khin Mg Tint’s family told The Irrawaddy.
“U Khin Mg Tint has been in hiding since the coup. He was arrested when he returned to his home in Pobbathiri Township,” the sources said.
Two other NLD members from Pobbathiri were also arrested on October 17 and all three are being detained in Naypyitaw Prison. The trio were accused of planning to bomb an electricity supply station in Pobbathiri. Last Friday, they were charged under Section 51(C) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.
If found guilty, they face up to ten years in prison for the “production, distribution, sale, gift or possession of explosive material, bombs or arms to commit terrorist bombing or to abet in the commission of terrorist bombing”.
Myanmar’s military seized power from the NLD in a February 1 coup, alleging electoral fraud in last year’s general election. Since then, the junta has detained ousted State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, as well as numerous other NLD officials and members.
Many of those arrested are accused of being involved in or aiding and abetting bomb attacks against the regime. So far, 418 NLD members have been arrested and almost 50 houses of NLD members have been sealed off.
On October 18, the military regime arrested former NLD lawmaker U Phyo Zeya Thaw, accusing him of being behind some 26 attacks against junta forces in Yangon.
U Khin Mg Tint acted as campaign manager for U Phyo Zeya Thaw in the 2012 by-elections and the 2015 general election. It is unclear if his detention in Naypyitaw is linked to the arrest of former MP U Phyo Zeya Thaw.
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