Myanmar celebrity gets three years in jail for mass protests

Naypyidaw: One of Myanmar’s most popular celebrities has been jailed for three years for taking part in mass protests that rocked Myanmar following a military coup last February.

Paing Takhon, a model and actor with millions of fans, took part in anti-coup protests and had also been vocal in condemning the government online. Myanmar’s military seized power after claims of election fraud. Since then, it has engaged in a brutal campaign of repression.

Takhon was arrested in April by around 50 soldiers who arrived in eight military trucks at 05:00 local time, according to a Facebook post by his sister. His legal advisor Khin Maung Myint said he had been sentenced to hard labour, adding that his family was considering whether to appeal.

Myanmar’s military leaders seized power in February after suffering a massive election defeat at the hands of the ruling National League of Democracy.

It claimed it had no choice but to orchestrate the coup because of widespread fraud in the poll, despite the country’s election commission saying there was no evidence to support these claims.

News of the coup sparked off large-scale civilian demonstrations across the country, which the military dispersed with brutal force.

Since then, at least 1,178 people have been killed and 7,355 arrested, charged or sentenced in a crackdown on dissent, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. -(Agencies)