Fifteen Myanmar men were charged on Monday with threatening to kill a ruling National League for Democracy party lawmaker from Thegone township in south-central Myanmar’s Bago region.
Authorities charged the group of men, which included San Maung, a banker known for gambling, and his sons, under Penal Code Section 506 for threatening Zaw Naing Oo’s life and Section 294 for committing obscene acts, the lawmaker told RFA’s Myanmar Service.
In March, Zaw Lin Htike, another Bago regional lawmaker from the NLD, submitted a proposal to take effective action against gambling and drug cases in response to inadequate policing.
Zaw Naing Oo said the men threatened him because the proposal was approved by the regional parliament.
“These people approached three NLD [National League for Democracy] members with knives on Nov. 5, asked them where Zaw Naing Oo was, and told them they would kill me,” he told RFA’s Myanmar Service.
After Zaw Naing Oo notified the police, the men called another NLD lawmaker and told him the same, he said.
“We have a sound file saying they will kill me because I ordered police to arrest them,” Zaw Maing Oo said.
After the incident, the district police chief held a meeting with police officers from six townships, during which an officer from Thegone township submitted the case, Zaw Maing Oo said.
Reported by Thiri Min Zin for RFA’s Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.