Kachin State government Office/Photo:Crd
Mizzima
Two former Kachin State government ministers who are members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were released from Myitkyina Prison in Kachin State on 1 April.
An NLD party member from Kachin State said, “The two ministers were released after serving a full term with reduced sentences. They are said to have arrived at their homes. I haven’t met with them yet.”
Win Nyunt formerly the Kachin State Minister of Transportation, and Naw Lee, formerly the Kachin State Minister of Municipal and Social Affairs were arrested at their ministerial residences on the first day of the military coup in Myanmar, 1 February 2021.
They were both charged under various laws, including Article 29 of the Disaster Management Law for participating in mass gatherings during the 2020 election campaigns, Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code for defaming the military regime, and Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law.
On 22 April 2021 they were sentenced to four years in prison and sent to Myitkyina Prison.
“They were convicted on various charges. Each of them received a four-year sentence. Some reductions were made, including six months in the Section 505 (b) case. They have now been released”, said the NLD party member from Kachin State.
Despite the release of the two former Kachin State ministers several other prominent figures remain imprisoned in Myitkyina Prison. Among them are the following ex-Kachin State parliament ministers: Dr. Khet Aung, the former Chief Minister of Kachin State; Wai Lin, the former Minister of Planning and Economy; Dashi La Sai, the former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation; Zaw Win, the former Minister of Immigration and Human Resources; and Nay Win, the former Minister of Social Affairs.
Since the coup numerous former NLD government ministers have been detained. many of them, including NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, remain in prison.
