Myanmar Junta Court Sentences Soe Than Naing, Full Military Supporter Convicted in Multiple Cases, to 10 Years

Soe Than Naing, a staunch military supporter who committed multiple offenses, sentenced to 10 years in prison

October 24

Soe Than Naing, leader of the People's Peace Students' Association (PPSA) and a former steadfast supporter of the coup military, was issued an arrest warrant under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Ye Township Court for illegal weapons possession and activities carried out under the guise of an armed group, it is learned.

After the military coup, Soe Than Naing consistently opposed the Spring Revolution, fully and steadfastly supported the military, and formed a group under the name PPSA (People's Peace Students' Army), carrying out armed interference in land disputes in Ye Township and surrounding areas, as well as armed provocations in ethnic and racial affairs, it is learned.

Regarding Soe Than Naing's 10-year prison sentence, Ko Latt (Mingaladon), a member of the Myanmar Nationalist Association (Ma Ba Tha), wrote on his social media: "Although I do not wish imprisonment on anyone, this is the return of one's own deeds upon oneself, and it is bearing the penalty for one's own offenses under the law."

It is also learned that Soe Than Naing, under the name of PPSA leader, was made to sign an acknowledgment by the No. (19) Military Operations Command Headquarters (MOC-19) in 2018 for illegally using the Malwe Taung-Kabyarwa project, land dispute, and sales contract documents.

It is learned that Soe Than Naing served as a soldier in the Pyapon Regiment in 1985, deserted from the army in 1986, served one year in prison for desertion, and then joined KNLA Brigade (1) as a platoon commander in 1987.

It is also learned that Soe Than Naing surrendered his weapons in November 1988, was arrested again in 1989 as an ABSDF member, and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Thaton District Court.

After being released again in 1995, he formed the People's Peace Students' Association (PPSA) with 11 members in 2013, and the Thaton Township administrator had the signboard removed, it is learned.

In 2014, he went to join the Karen Arms and Peace Exchange group (KEAP) and was expelled from KEAP for reconnecting with the former ABSDF, it is learned.

On April 18, 2022, he was shot 8 times with a gun after challenging revolutionary comrades at Sapyae Chaung in the Malwe Taung area of Tanintharyi Region, but survived thanks to a bulletproof vest; it is also learned that he used the name of the PPSA he founded when applying for forest reserve land use rights.

MyoTaw News Channel