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The son-in-law of former Myanmar dictator Than Shwe has been arrested on charges including threatening national security and disturbing the peace with his posts on social media, junta authorities announced.
Nay Soe Maung was detained on Wednesday in the city of Mandalay for “propaganda,” and “provocations” on his social media page, junta authorities said in a statement. Charges included involvement with a terrorist group, sedition, inciting fear and threatening national security.
“These people have destroyed national peace and stability by spreading fear among the public,” the junta’s Ministry of Information said in a statement late on Thursday on the arrest, referring to pro-democracy groups set after the military overthrew an elected government in February 2021.
The ministry did not say Nay Soe Maung was a member of those “terrorist groups” but implied that he sympathized with them.
“They have decided to break government mechanisms, inciting, spreading propaganda and threatening through social media in various ways,” the ministry said.
Nay Soe Maung is a medical doctor and a former military officer. His father in law, Than Shwe, headed the military junta from 1992 to 2011, before handing over leadership of the armed forces to the current junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The junta did not give details of the social media posts it objected to but Nay Soe Maung had made comments on his Facebook page objecting to the 2021 coup. He also provided medical treatment to people hurt in anti-military protests, witnesses said at the time.
Recently, he posted a note of sympathy upon the death of Zaw Myint Maung, a jailed senior member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party, saying he was a respected leader who inspired people. Activists said Zaw Mynit Maung did not receive proper treatment for cancer in prison.
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Since the coup, thousands of protesters, students and workers have been charged with incitement for speaking out against the military.
Nay Soe Maung’s father, Tin Sein, served as deputy minister of defense under another old dictator, Ne Win, who seized power in a 1962 coup, ushering in the military’s unrelenting domination of politics.
The arrest of such a well-connected figure is rare and it illustrated Min Aung Hlaing’s undisputed position of power, said a political commentator, who declined to be identified for security reasons.
“He’s the new dictator … Now, anyone who wants to take Min Aung Hlaing’s place must fall in line,” he said, referring to possible contenders.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA Staff.