The widow of reporter Aung Kyaw Naing, also known as Par Gyi, who died in military custody last October is set to launch an appeal against the military court’s decision to acquit and unconditionally free two Myanmar soldiers, Lance-corporal Kyaw Kyaw Aung and Private Naing Lin Htun, accused in his death.
Aung Kyaw Naing had been arrested near the town of Kyaikmayaw, Mon State, on September 30 by a combination of police and soldiers from Infantry Battalion 204. The country’s Ministry of Defense later said he was shot to death by government soldiers who claimed the journalist was trying to flee custody because he was an information officer with the rank of captain in the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), an accusation the DKBA has denied.
Doctors who performed an autopsy on his corpse last November found five gunshot wounds and also claimed that the corpse showed signs of torture. Although the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission [MHRC] conducted an investigation and recommended the case be heard in a civilian court, the decision was overturned by the military which insisted on a military tribunal.
Aung Kyaw Naing’s widow, Thandar, will appeal to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing because the military court released the two soldiers.