Yangon anti-coup activists sentenced to 20 years in prison

Mizzima

Yangon-based anti-coup activists Paing Phyo Min (also known as De Yay) and Shein Wai Aung have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison by junta-controlled courts, according to a 9 July statement from the Universities Students’ Union Alumni Force (USUAF).

Paing Phyo Min, the leader of the Anti-Junta Alliance of Yangon (AJAY) and a member of USUAF, and Shein Wai Aung, a former executive of the Dagon University Students’ Union, were arrested on 9 October 2024 during late-night guest list inspections carried out by the military junta.

On 19 February, the Insein Prison Court sentenced them to three years under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code. On 26 June, the Botahtaung District Court added 17 more years—seven years under Section 52(a) and 10 years under Section 50(j) of the junta’s Counter-Terrorism Law, bringing their total prison terms to 20 years each.