NLD MP for Gwa Township Ye Khaung Nyunt was arrested on February 11 and charged with incitement (Supplied)  

Gwa Township representative Ye Khaung Nyunt was charged with incitement and violating Covid-19 restrictions 

By Myanmar Now

A National League for Democracy (NLD) MP for southern Rakhine State’s Gwa Township and two anti-coup protesters were sentenced to prison on Monday, according to sources close to the defendants.

NLD lawmaker Ye Khaung Nyunt, who was arrested on February 11, was sentenced to two years in prison for incitement under Section 505b of the Penal Code and an additional three months for violating Section 30a of the Disaster Management Law.

Lu Ni (aka Soe Hlaing), the former administrator for Gwa’s Myoma Ward, was also found guilty of incitement and given a two-year prison sentence.

The third defendant, Aung Soe Min, received a five-month sentence under the Disaster Management Law for taking part in anti-coup protests in defiance of Covid-19 restrictions.

“They were taken to Thandwe prison immediately after being given their sentences. The families got to meet them today and they are in good health,” Nyan Tun Min, the NLD secretary for Gwa Township, told Myanmar Now.

According to Lu Ni’s son, Myat Paing Soe, there are no plans to appeal the sentences.

Lu Ni and Aung Soe Min, who is a resident of Myoma Ward in Gwa, were arrested on February 13 for taking part in protests against the military takeover on February 1.

Anti-coup protests broke out in many parts of southern Rakhine State, including Gwa, Toungup, Thandwe, Manaung and Ann townships, where the NLD enjoys strong support.

At least 10 prominent party leaders in the state, including former chief minister Nyi Pu, were arrested in the wake of the army’s overthrow of the country’s elected civilian government.

Others include the state’s municipal minister, Min Aung; the NLD’s state vice chair, Soe Lay; the party’s chair for Toungup Township, Tin Thein Aung; Toungup MP Ni Ni May Myint; Toungup candidate Chit Chit Chaw; youth leader Moe San Su Kyi; and Sittwe Township candidate Tun Hlaing.

Original Post: Myanmar Now