Junta arrests National League for Democracy lawmaker in Magway region

Junta troops have arrested a former National League for Democracy lawmaker and his family in Myanmar’s central Magway region, according to a family friend.

Win Win was elected as Minbu township’s representative to the country’s lower house, or Pyithu Hluttaw, in 2015 and reelected in 2020.

He was arrested with his wife and three children on Sunday morning at a relative’s house in Pwintbyu township, where he had been hiding since the military overthrew the National League for Democracy-led government in a February 2021 coup.

"They were arrested early in the morning. We don't know where he was taken after that,” said the family friend, who did not wish to be identified for security reasons. “I understand that the junta issued an arrest warrant for Win Win under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code," he said, referring to the section prohibiting incitement against a government employee, which is punishable by up to three years in prison.

The family friend did not know whether the junta would continue to detain Win Win’s wife Toe Toe Wai and his children, Thantzin Win Wai Hein, 17; Nhoung Yati Win Wai Htwe, 13; and La Pyae Win, 3, while pursuing its case against him.

The junta has not released a statement on the arrests.

Since the coup, the military regime has detained and imprisoned scores of lawmakers, including prominent members of the National League for Democracy.

According to the party's human rights department, 90 members of parliament and 1,169 party members have been arrested since Feb. 1, 2021. It said 67 members, including two lawmakers, died in prison or during interrogation.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.