Zaw Myint Maung, a key figure in Myanmar’s former ruling party, passed away while serving a politically motivated prison sentence following the 2021 military coup. A close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, he faced imprisonment multiple times for his political involvement. Despite battling leukemia since 2019, his death was confirmed by party members, one fearing retribution from authorities. The National Unity Government praised Zaw Myint Maung’s dedication to democracy amid ongoing civil unrest.
Following the military seizure of power in 2021, many NLD members, including Suu Kyi, were charged with fabricated offenses to legitimize the coup. Zaw Myint Maung received a 29-year sentence on similar charges. Despite hope for amnesty, he passed away before its official announcement, reminiscent of the fate of NLD member Nyan Win.
The military dissolved the NLD and other parties in 2023, leaving the country awaiting an upcoming election. Zaw Myint Maung’s death marks another tragic loss in the ongoing struggle for democracy in Myanmar.
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