In Mon State, four residents in Paung Township and one in Bilin Township were arrested by the military junta for allegedly distributing political propaganda, and a case was opened under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.
The individuals arrested and charged are Saw Yazar Min (20) from Oketadar village, Paung Township; Aung Min Htwe (22); Chit Thu Paing (33); Ma Aye Ni Ni Aung (22) from Kywechan; and Min Tun Myat Aung (25) from Alulay village, Bilin Township.
According to sources close to the junta security forces, the individuals were apprehended and charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code on September 4th.
The charges related to allegedly repeated participation in protests and writing and distributing posts on social media sites that discredit the heads of state.
“Arrests in Paung Township used to be rare, but nowadays, there are numerous cases of people being detained, some of whom have been released, and others with ongoing cases. As far as we know, approximately 10 individuals have active cases,” said a resident of Paung.
During the first week of September, the military junta arrested at least 15 local residents following the shooting death of a policeman in Paung Township and attacks on the police station and departmental office.
Among those arrested are Daw Cho Win, Daw Khin Thida Kyaw, Ko Pho Cho, Daw Khin Than Nu, Daw Zin Mar Tun, and Daw Sandar Lin from Oketadar village. All faced charges under Section 52(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act. A case has also been opened under Section 50(j).
The military junta announced that it will take action under various legal provisions, including Section 52(A) of the Anti-Terrorism Law, Section 124-A, Section 505-A of the Penal Code, and Section 33(A) of the Electronic Communications Act. These legal tools are being used by the military junta for allegedly spreading propaganda to disrupt national peace and instill fear in the public.
In September last year, the military junta arrested the owner of Kyaw Kyaw Kyar phone repair shop in Thanbyuzayat Township and two shop workers for allegedly distributing defamatory texts on social media. A case was filed at the Thanbyuzayat police station under Penal Code Section 505(a).
