According to military sources in Yangon, former General Soe Thein and his son Aye Chan have filed both criminal and civil cases against at least 15 civilians in Kamayut, Bahan, and Pansodan townships. The cases include charges under Section 505(a) and Section 66(d), along with civil suits demanding compensation in thousands of lakhs. These legal actions target individuals who have criticized their family for supporting the military coup on social media platforms.
The father-son duo has been systematically pursuing legal action against anyone who shares, comments on, or reacts to social media posts identifying them as supporters of the military coup. In Kamayut District Court, they have filed civil suits against seven individuals, demanding 3,000 lakhs (30 million kyats) in compensation from each person. In Bahan Township, seven more individuals face charges under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, while numerous similar cases have been filed in Pansodan Township. The targets of these lawsuits range from ordinary citizens to business owners who have expressed criticism of their stance on social media.
Soe Thein previously served as Minister of the President’s Office during President Thein Sein’s administration, while his son Aye Chan is both a businessman and the Secretary-General of the Myanmar Press Council, established by Min Aung Hlaing’s military council. In his role with the Press Council, Aye Chan has been actively promoting military council propaganda at international media conferences, claiming that the National League for Democracy committed electoral fraud and that the military had to seize power to maintain order. He has also been instrumental in spreading military council narratives about alleged fake news on social media platforms. The pair are reportedly using their influence and connections with judges to pursue these cases, with Deputy District Judge Kyi Kyi Khaing handling their cases in Kamayut District Court, where sources indicate they have established favorable conditions through various means of influence.
