Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 8 October 2024

Delegation of the European Union to Myanmar issued astatement on 7 October stating that the military junta's decision to grantamnesty to Mandalay chief minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung just hours before hisdeath was not a genuine act of clemency.

"The military junta's pardon of him, just hoursbefore his death, was not a gesture of genuine clemency," said a statementof the EU delegation.

Dr Maung was battling with leukemia and receivedtreatment at Mandalay general hospital on 6 October when the junta officialsarrived at the hospital and granted him amnesty.

He passed away less than 24 hours after receiving theclemency at the age of 73.

Former vice-chairman of the National League forDemocracy (NLD) and Mandalay region CM Dr Maung was arrested again by themilitary authorities after 1 February 2021 coup. He was charged under falseaccusation, added  the EU statement.

"Conditions of his detention were inhumane anddegrading, as Dr Maung struggled with a severe illness for many years withoutreceiving adequate medical care," asserted the statement.

He died at the hospital at around 3 am on Monday. TheEU delegation extended its deepest condolence to the bereaved  family andwell-wishers.

Dr Maung was a fierce defender of human rights andplayed a crucial role in guiding Myanmar's transition to democracy afterspending 19 years in prison between 1988 and 2009.

The EU remains firmly committed to the people ofMyanmar and calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all thosearbitrarily detained, as well as a return to a democratic path, essentialprerequisites for peace and reconciliation, said the statement.

Following the last coup Dr Maung was sentenced to 29years at Obo prison in the Mandalay region with nine charges, includingviolations of the Natural Disaster Law, section 505(b), section 171(f) andsection 130(a).

In the 1990 multi-party democratic general elections,Dr  Maung was elected to represent Amarapura township as a candidate of National League for Democracy (NLD).

On 22 November 1990, he was arrested by the militaryjunta and sentenced to 19 years in prison, from which he was released on 21February 2009.

In the 2012 by-elections, he was elected as therepresentative of Pyithu Hluttaw from  Kyaukpadaung township.

He was later elected to the Mandalay Region Parliamentfrom Amarapura in the general election of 2015 and subsequently took office asthe region's chief minister.