A former Myanmar information minister has been arrested and accused of promoting dissent against the military, the junta said on Sunday, the latest in a series of high-profile arrests.
In recent months, the military, which has faced armed resistance since seizing power in a coup in 2021, has detained several trade representatives as the civil war ravages Myanmar’s already struggling economy.
Ye Htut was information minister and presidential spokesman under Thein Sein’s military government, which handed power to Aung San Suu Kyi after historic 2015 elections.
In a statement, the junta’s information team said the 64-year-old was arrested on Saturday evening for “spreading false information on social media.”
“U Ye Htut was arrested last night and charged under Section 505 (a),” a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity, without giving further details.
Section 505 prohibits any action that could harm the military. The law provides for a maximum prison sentence of three years.
His arrest comes a week after pro-junta Telegram channels accused him of revealing the address of a retired military officer on social media.
Thein Sein government enabled some economic and social liberalization, particularly by allowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party into political life, but was also the source of waves of murderous violence against nuns.
At the time, Ye Htut was called the “Minister of Facebook” due to his frequent posts on the social network, which was one of the most popular in the country.
After his retirement, he remained active on the platform and shared details of his travels.
He posted his last message on October 27 during a visit to Inle Lake (Central), a popular spot for tourists.