The military junta in Myanmar has revoked the citizenship of several members of the opposition government dominated by Aung San Suu Kyi’s toppled administration, it said on Saturday.
Ousted lawmakers formed the National Unity Government weeks after the military’s power-grab in February last year, and have vowed to overturn the coup
The NUG has since been declared a “terrorist” organisation by the junta.
Those stripped of citizenship include spokesman Dr Sasa — who goes by one name — minister for foreign affairs Zin Mar Aung, home minister Lwin Ko Latt and human rights minister Aung Myo Min.
The group had “violated the existing laws of the State and … found to be committing acts that could harm the interests of Myanmar”, according to a junta notice in the state newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar.
The writer Ei Pencilo and prominent activists Min Ko Naing and Ei Thinzar Maung had also had their citizenship revoked, it said.
“Similar perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted,” the notice from the military added.
The NUG holds no territory and has not been recognised by any foreign government. Many of its members are in hiding or exile.
Aung San Suu Kyi — nominated as the head of the shadow government — has been detained since the coup and faces a barrage of charges that could put her in jail for more than 150 years.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup and a subsequent military crackdown on dissent that a local monitoring group says has killed more than 1,600 people.