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Testimony of the Accused
Myo Myint Nyein
In his main statement Myo Myint Nyein told the court that he discussed
with Phyo Min Thein writing a message to the UN Human Rights Conference
in Vienna, Austria in 1993. The message stated that "we (Burmese)
hope for more support from the international community for the promotion
of human rights in Burma." He also confessed that along with Phyo
Min Thein he signed the message written in English on the prison
shirt. The message was later sent to the Human Rights Conference.
Myo Myint Nyien stated he made arrangements to send
a message of congratulations from 'political prisoners, colleagues
and friends' to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi when she was released (from
house arrest). He said he made arrangements for the publishing of
the weekly news bulletins, distributed them among those who wished
to read them, and wrote articles for the bulletin. He testified
that he also held discussions with Phyo Min Thein to publish a magazine
in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Rangoon University, and
he took joint responsibility for the magazine.
Myo Myint Nyien said he wrote a paper on the 'rights
and grievances of the prisoners' to be presented to the United Nations
through the ICRC during their proposed visit to the prison. He said
he was unable to deliver the paper because he could not meet the
ICRC delegation. Myo Myint Nyien also testified that he received
messages on the 4th anniversary of Maung Thaw Ka's death, and that
he was sent to Cell 2 of Hall 6 while his cell was being searched
on November 11 and 15, 1995. He said he was also responsible for
the letter sent to the government suggesting the release of Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi when she was not freed as expected, and that this
letter was not distributed.
He further testified that he was responsible for
the evidence contained in Evidence Categories C, D, E and K, that
he had never seen the New Blood Wave magazine before, and that it
was not true that he asked Nyunt Zaw to copy the news after receiving
it from the BBC, VOA and DVB, and nor did he distribute this news.
He said it was also not true that the news was read by the prisoners
from Long Hall 4, and Short Halls 4 and 3. He said it was only sent
it to the political prisoners in Long Hall 4 to be read.
Myo Myint Nyien said it was not true that Myo Nyunt
Thein signed his name on the prison shirt to be sent to the Vienna
Human Rights Conference, and added that the news contained on the
shirt was all correct. He said the meeting of the VOA correspondent
with leaders of the country was proof of that, and said the information
contained in the papers, magazines and bulletins was all true.
Zaw Tun
Zaw Tun testified that his room was not searched on November 11,
1995 and that he and Nyunt Zaw were brought out of their cell when
Hall 4 was searched on November 12, 1995. He said nothing was found
in his cell.
Zaw Tun also said he learned from Warden U Nyunt Wai
that the search team found a package when another search was conducted
in their absence. He said the first time he had seen the package
was when Warden U Nyunt Wai showed it to him.
He said did not read the Diamond Jubilee magazine,
and asserted that, as written in the 'Historic Peacock' poem, it
was true that a number of students had died or were injured on July
7, 1962, during the 1974 U Thant Funeral Strike, at the Hmaing Centennial
Strike, during the 1987 Demonstration Strike and on the day of Phone
Maw's death in 1988.
He said he was not guilty.
Nyunt Zaw
Nyunt Zaw testified that on November 12 1995, the authorities searched
his cell in his absence. He said he did not sign the documentary
record (listing the evidence found in his cell). He also said that
the Diamond Jubilee magazine was written by hand in recognition
of the plight of plight of political prisoners. Nyunt Zaw further
testified that he only copied news collected from visiting during
prison visits at the request of Myo Myint Nyein, and said there
was also news from Radio Myanmar in the news bulletin.
Soe Htet Khaing
Although he did not refute the charges explicitly, Soe Htet Khaing
told the court that the allegations stated by U Ye Nyunt (plaintiff
witness 2) were incorrect.
Aung Kyaw Oo
Aung Kyaw Oo told the court that he was a member of the 'Committee
to Publish The Diamond Jubilee Magazine', and that he had only participated
in putting the magazine together. He did not deny the fact that
Nyunt Zaw, Phyo Min Thein, Kyi Pe Kyaw were involved in publishing
the magazine.
Zaw Min
As a defendant, Zaw Min answered 11 questions asked by the court.
He did not produce any witness to refute the charges, and he did
not act as a witness during any of the other cases being tried.
Phyo Min Thein
Phyo Min Thein testified that after a discussion with Myo Myint
Nyein in early May 1993, he signed his name on the prison shirt
on which they wrote that 'the political prisoners welcome the Vienna
Conference', that 'the rays of hope for human rights will be brightened
in Burma' and that 'we are still under detention in the SLORC prison
where no human rights are practiced'.
He said he held discussion with Myo Myint Nyein to
compile a paper on human rights violations common in prison to present
to the ICRC when its delegation was scheduled to visit the prison.
Phyo Min Thain said he was a participant, along with others, in
the preparation of the paper to be presented to the UN through the
ICRC. He said the paper was unable to presented to the UN through
the visit was canceled. Similarly, he said they could not send the
paper (to the UN) by any other means. Phyo Min Thein stated that
what was contained in this paper regarding the situation in prison
was true and the information was based on his own experience under
detention.
Phyo Min Thein said he took the main responsibility
for publishing the magazine in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Rangoon
University. He said he drew illustrations on both the front and
back covers, and that anyone could participate in the writing and
preparation of the magazine. He said there was no committee as such
for the publishing of the magazine and that he informed only those
who could help him put the magazine together.
He testified that he asked Myo Myint Nyein to do the
layout of the Diamond Jubilee magazine, and asked Nyunt Zaw, who
had beautiful handwriting, to copy the final draft. He stated the
information contained in the magazine was all correct and that it
reflected the genuine feelings of political prisoners.
He pleaded not guilty.
Win Thein
Win Thein testified that nothing was found in his cell during the
special search conducted on November 11, 1995. He said the New Blood
Wave magazine that Warden U San Ya alleged was discovered there
was not in his possession and stated that he had no connection with
the magazine.
Win Thein told the court he was beaten during his
interrogation.
He pleaded not guilty.
Aung Myo Tint
Aung Myo Tint testified that on November 12, 1995 a warden and other
prison officials took him from his cell (no. 29, Short Hall 4) saying
that he would have to meet the chief warden. He said that he was
tortured that night.
Aung Myo Tint said he was taken away again on November
16, 1995 and officials showed him a hand written book and asked
if he had written it. When he denied this, he said they asked him
to write something on paper (to check his handwriting).
Aung Myo Tint testified that the accusations made
by the prison officials against him were biased and untrue. He said
he had not held any discussions with Win Thein, that he did not
share a cell with Pyone Cho and Yin Htwe, had nothing to do with
them, and that his prison visiting time was not the same as theirs.
He said that according to prosecution witnesses, the
notebook was found near the official quarters. He also said he was
not connected with the New Blood Wave magazine.
Aung Myo Tint pleaded not guilty.
Htay Wing Aung(8)
Htay Wing Aung is a member of the ABFSU and was placed in a prison
dog cell in Insein between mid-November 1995 and January 1996.
Htay Wing Aung testified that on November 12, 1995
he was taken away from his cell, his head having been covered with
a mask, and was beaten during an interrogation. He also told the
court that on November 16, 1995 he was treated in the same way during
another interrogation. He said six officials interrogated him suing
threats and torture.
Htay Wing Aung said he had no connection with the
evidence found elsewhere and that nothing was found in his cell.
He said U Khin Htay's allegations against him were wrong. He denied
that the handwriting in the New Blood Wave magazine was his, that
he and Aung Myo Tint named the magazine, that Aung Myo Tint drew
illustrations and copied the writing in the magazine, or that he
wrote the poems 'Summer Dream: Purple Flower', 'Phone Maw' or 'He
Whose History Does Not Die' and 'Anger of 13-16'.
He pleaded not guilty.
Yin Htway
Yin Htway testified that on November 12, 1995 he was sent to Cell
7, Hall 6 before U Myint Thein and his team searched his cell. He
said after he was interrogated, he signed a paper because he was
asked to do so.
Yin Htway said that Warden U San Ya claimed he found
the New Blood Wave magazine, he could not tell the court exactly
where he found he it. He said the magazine had nothing to do with
Hall 4 where he lived and that he had no connection with the publication.
Yin Htway pleaded not guilty.
Win Tin
Win Tin testified that Military Intelligence Services (MIS) personnel
took him to a show entitled 'Windy With Big Wave' at Envoy Hall
on U Wisara Road while he was serving a prison term for previous
offenses. He said the MIS asked him to write a 25-page assessment
paper and he complied with this.
He told the court the main points in the paper were:
'the Army was working for continued military domination in Burma',
'he could not accept the fact the Tamadaw(9) was creating a destiny
for the country', 'he objected to the military intervention during
the 1988 Uprising in which a new generation of students and the
entire nation participated', 'he supported Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's
tireless effort to establish democracy for the generation to come'
and 'he presented the sufferings of political prisoners when he
was allowed to meet two foreign delegations'. He said that when
he was allowed to meet a foreign delegation for a second time, he
also presented some of his views on the release of Daw Suu Kyi and
political prisoners, on the meeting, which the SLORC held with Daw
Suu Kyi, and on the abolition of the National Convention. He said
that the current situations that he had been legally permitted to
undertake.
Win Tin testified that the statement in the letter
to the UN that 'political prisoners did not receive sufficient medication
in prison', was a true statement. He said he himself had not received
sufficient medication. He told the court that political prisoners
refused to eat food for three days to protest against the punishment
received by Bala Gyi (aka Than Htut.) He said when U Hla told him
of the (punishment) incident he refused offd as part of the protest.
When he was told (by the authorities) to change his mind, he said
he did not. He said he began to eat again when Bala Gyi was exempted
from punishment.
Win Tin testified that when prisoners demanded their
rights, the authorities only allowed prisoners to heat up their
food before eating it. He said that although he demanded the status
of political prisoners be clearly defined, (the authorities) did
not comply with this.
He told the court that the facts contained in the
letter to the United Nations, describing the situation with regard
to the treatment of prisoners in solitary confinement and other
matters, were correct and were beyond the limits of regulations
outlined in the prison manual.
Win Tin said that the search of his cell on November
12, 1995, the officers confiscated many papers and materials from
the cell. He said he did not know if all of the confiscated materials
were shown to the court, but said that among the materials shown
in court he had not seen the paper about the NLD meetings in prison
or the paper entitled 'To The Lady's Birthday'.
He said he had not seen the 'Ten Principles of Unity'
document or his view on the Joint Action Committee. He said although
officials claimed that the letter of Ko Phyo, addressed to 'Ah Ba'
or father, was found in his cell, this was not correct. He added
that the 'De Hlaing' poem was not written in his handwriting, and
that he could not write poems because he was old. He said he was
only a newspaper writer, but testified that he did not write any
of the articles in the New Blood Wave magazine. He said just because
there was no name alongside an article, didn't mean that he had
written it.
Win Tin said the letter written on Aung San Suu Kyi's
50th birthday entitled 'Bowing To The Lady On Her Birthday' was
a personal letter, not a political letter. He said he wrote the
greeting letter to Aung San Suu Kyi on her release (from house arrest).
Win Tin pleaded not guilty because he said all of
what he had written was based on the truth.
Hla Than
Hla Than did not act as a witness, but as a defendant. He answered
only two questions posed by the court. He didn't produce anything
to prove he was not guilty.
Ko Ko Oo (aka Bo Bo)
In his defense, Ko Ko Oo told the court that on November 12, 1995
he was taken from Cell 14, Hall 3 and interrogated in the 'special'
hall. He further alleged that he was interrogated again on the following
day in Cell 6, Hall 6.
He said he was again taken away from his cell on
November 20, 1995. He said he was taken to the plot behind Hall
5 and saw a group of prisoners digging away a garbage heap of about
6 feet squatre. Ko Ko Oo said he was then taken to a dug-out for
human excrement about 30 yards away (from the garbage pit). He said
an official ordered a prisoner to poke the pit with something and
the prisoner refused. He said two officials, Warden U San Ya and
U Hla, were present at that time and he saw them abusing and beating
the inmates. He said h e also saw someone bringing batteries and
cables, and that although he had no idea what the group of prisoners
who had been beaten earlier had found in the sewerage pit, he saw
them cleaning something at the water tap. He said he was then interrogated.
He testified that in February 1996 he was charged
for allegedly being involved in the smuggling of an 8-band radio
into the prison. He said he had heard news that this had been done
in 1994. He denied his involvement in this, further testifying that
the radio parts and cables were not his, that they were not found
in his room, and that there was no evidence that he listened to
the BBC, VOA, DVB, Voice of Myanmar, and Far East Radio, and redistributed
the news. He said he was not guilty of this charge.
During cross-examination by the law enforcement official,
Ko Ko Oo refused to answer all the questions and denied that he
listened to the news and distributed the news. He also asserted
that the news contained in the news bulletin was all correct.
Kyi Pe Kyaw (aka Kyaw Gyi)
Kyi Pe Kyaw was acquitted from a case on November 12, 1995 (while
serving a prison term). He was again recalled to the court on February
5, 1996 to face charges.
He testified in court that a special search was conducted
in his cell on November 12, 1995 and that he was transferred from
his cell to Cell 2, Hall 6 during the search. He told the court
the statement that Warden U Thein Myint searched Long 18 and Long
Hall 4 alone was incorrect.
Kyi Pe Kyaw denied that he decorated the Diamond Jubilee
magazine and that he sent a letter to the UN detailing the abuse
of the prisoners in Insein. During cross-examination, he denied
his participating in putting out the news bulletin and denied that
he had discussed with anyone. He also testified that he co-signed
the letter to the UN written by Win Tin, because the authorities
told him to sign the letter.
Kyaw Min Yu (aka Jimmy)
In his defense, Kyaw Min Yu testified that he was recalled back
to Insein by MIS (6) and that he had to stay in Tharawaddy Prison
from August 6 to November 20, 1995. He said he did not advise Myo
Myint Nyein to write a letter to the Vienna Human Rights Conference
on the prison shirt in 1995. In addition, he said he did not know
anything about the letter. He said he was not involved in the collection
of manuscripts for the finalizing of, of the distribution of the
news bulletin, and told the court he had never talked about the
news bulletin with Myo Myint Nyein. He also told the court that
broadcasting stations such as the BBC and VOA were good for the
people and that these stations broadcast only correct and confirmed
news.
Kyaw Min Yu denied that it was his handwriting (Evidence
Category R) that was found in the news bulletin despite verification
from the handwriting expert. He said he grew more confident after
he took the (hand-writing) test. Furthermore, Kyaw Min Yu said it
was not true that he co-signed the Christmas card addressed to Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi. He said all he knew was that the card was destroyed
without it being sent to her. He told the court that the note 'I
would like to greet you with genuine democracy' had nothing to do
with the charge that had been brought against him.
Kyaw Min Yu pleaded not guilty on the grounds that
he had done nothing related to the charge.
Myat Tun
Myat Tun testified that the authorities did not find anything illegal
in his cell during the search and that they only found a nail cutter,
a photo, a small Dharma Setkya(10) and a not written on a piece
of paper used for wrapping up snacks. He said the note in Evidence
Category T was just a note of news that he had received during a
prison visit. He said did not distribute any news nor tell any news
to anyone.
Myat Tun pleaded not guilty.
Win Tun
Win Tun confessed that the search team found a redio and batteries
in his cell. He further testified that the search ws conducted in
his absence. During cross-examination, he told the court that he
listened to the BBC, VOA, etc., but did not distribute any news
to anyone.
Sein Hlaing
Sein Hlaing allowed himself to be questioned as a defendant. He
answered only two questions and did not have any witness to present
to the court.
Zaw Myint Maung
Zaw Myint Maung testified that he heard loud noises similar to digging
on the ground with axes from the direction of Hall 4 at about 8:30
p.m. on November 11, 1995. He said the following day, a team led
by Chief Warden U Kan Myint searched all of the 14 cells in Hall
3 using hoes and axes to dig. He said the officials found nothing
in his cell. He said that on November 13, 1995, the team dug the
ground in front of Cells 6 to 9 and also dug in front his cell (no.
10, Hall 3) and nothing was found. On November 15, 1995, he said
he and some other prisoners were taken away from their cells and
ordered into separate cells in which they are still living. He said
the officials did not even allow him to drink water during his period
of interrogation.
Zaw Myint Maung told the court that he was later
shown two sheets of paper and was accused of writing a poem in the
Diamond Jubilee magazine, and a poem and an article in the New Blood
Wave magazine. He said he had never heard of the existence of nor
read these magazines. He said he had seen his name in the magazines
and suggested that it may have been written by the investigators.
He added that on November 23, 1995 the authorities took a sample
of his handwriting. He said the words he was told to write were
designed to hurt his political dignity.
Zaw Myint Maung said although it was alleged that
he wrote the poem 'Noble Mother' (Evidence Category C), he could
not find this title in the table of contents (of the Diamond Jubilee
magazine). he added that the testimony of handwriting expert U Tin
Sein was incorrect and that it was unnecessary to counter his claims.
Therefore he did not answer the law enforcement official's question
regarding his handwriting (Evidence Category O).
Zaw Myint Maung denied all the charges.
Soe Myint
Soe Myint testified that it was difficult to determine who was responsible
for putting out the New Blood Wave magazine because Warden U San
Ya could not verify where it was found. He said he did not write
the song 'Battle Cry' in the magazine, and added that U Ye Nyunt
himself had answered 'no' when asked if he knew whether the song
was written by Nantawshayt Saya Tin(11). He refused the accusation
on the grounds that the prosecution told the court that it was true
only according to the investigation rather than in fact.
He again denied writing the song when under cross-examination
and denied reading or distributing the New Blood Wave magazine.
Ba Myo Thein
Ba Myo Thein testified that the search of his cell was conducted
from November 12, 1995 to November 14, 1995 and that he was interrogated
on January 20, 1996. He said he learned three days later that he
would be charged formally at the court.
Ba Myo Thein told the court that he did sign the plastic
bag on which the letter was written to the UN Secretary General,
or the white sheet of paper. He said although his cell was searched,
the authorities did not find anything so he didn't need to sign
any document acknowledging anything was found.
Ba Myo Thein pleaded not guilty on the grounds that
the prosecution only alleged that they had found evidence of his
involvement in the crime on February 5, 1996. He denied all the
charges during the cross-examination.
The testimonies of defense witness U Saw Nay Dun and
U Tin Maung Lwin could only verify the accused were put in solitary
confinement and tortured during their interrogation. They were not
able to tell the court anything that would support the defense case
against the other charges.
Myo Myint Nyein
As the court listened to testimony from both sides, Myo Myint Nyein
told the court that the information contained in the letter to the
Vienna Human Rights Conference was not fabricated, but based on
true accounts. He said he wrote the letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
when he heard that she had been released (from house arrest) but
said it was not sent to her because she was not released. He added
the facts in this letter were correct and contained no false statements.
Myo Myint Nyein also testified that when he wrote
the news bulletin in 1994/95, the news in it was also true and that
those who were interested in it were allowed to read it. He said
he also wrote a paper to present to (former UN Special Rapporteur)
Professor Yokota when he was scheduled to visit the prison and although
he was not able to give him the letter because he did not seen him,
the content of the letter was based on actual events in Insein prison.
Myo Myint Nyein took responsibility for publishing
the Diamond Jubilee Magazine and said the news and facts published
in the magazine were all true accounts. He therefore pleaded not
guilty.
Zaw Tun
He further testified that he was not on the 'Committee to Publish
the Diamond Jubilee Magazine' and said that the facts in the magazine
were all correct. He said he did not write any poems and that Nyunt
Zaw copied the manuscripts at the arrangement of Phyo Min Thein.
Zaw Tun said statements such as 'Phone Maw's death'
and 'It is better to play chess' had nothing to do with Section
5 (E) of the Emergency Provision Act (the formal charge brought
against him.) He said although he discussed with Phyo Min Thein
what should be told to the ICRC when its representatives paid a
visit to the prison, some of the accusations made were not covered
in that discussion.
Nyunt Zaw
Nyunt Zaw testified that he wrote the Diamond Jubilee magazine and
all the facts published in it were genuine. He said the prosecution
could not produce any proof the information in the magazine was
not correct. Despite the fact that the letter to the UN investigator
was unable to be delivered, the details in it were all based on
realities in the prison. He said he also wrote the news bulletin.
Soe Htet Khaing
Soe Htet Khaing said there were no witnesses other than U Khin Htay
and U Ye Nyunt who testified that he endorsed both the letter to
the UN and the letter to Aung San Suu Kyi. He said their testimonies
were based on his confessions which were made during his interrogaition.
He therefore pleaded not guilty.
Aung Kyaw Oo
Aung Kyaw Oo said it was true that he wrote the poem 'Together With
Infinite Strentgth' in the Diamond Jubilee magazine. He said everyone
has strength and requested that the court rule to give prisoners
the right to read and write if they are convicted under the present
charge.
Zaw Min
Zaw Min testified that he was not in Insein Prison during the period
between August 6, 1995 and November 21, 1995. He said he did not
write the poem 'Kow-towing To Mother', the poem titled 'Appendix
To A Cup Of Light Sweet Tea' or the short story 'Day Of Hope'. He
said there was no proof he had written them, nor had any drafts
of them been found.
He also said it was untrue that Soe Htet Khaing and
Aung Kyaw Oo had helped him. Zaw Min said there was also no proof
that he signed the letter to the UN. He denied he discussed the
letter with Nyunt Zaw, Kyi Pe Kyaw and Phyo Min Thein, because it
was already stated that U Win Tin alone had written the letter.
Phyo Min Thein
Phyo Min Thein also said he was transferred from Taungoo Prison
to Insein Prison on November 24, 1995. He said after the investigation
he was formally charged for alleged involvement in this case.
He stated that the prosecution could not prove that
the contents of the Diamond Jubilee magazine were false or that
he edited it. He said although he was accused of writing the poem
'Kow-towing to the Mother', the authorities also accused another
prisoner of writing the same poem. He confessed that he wrote the
letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the other letter on the prison
shirt to the UN.
Phyo Min Thein maintained that all the facts contained
in these letters were based on genuine accounts and on these grounds
he pleaded not guilty.
Win Thein
Win Thein said that a special team searched his cell on November
11, 1995. He testified that on November 15, 1995 he was beaten while
being interrogated.
He asserted that there was no proof that he wrote
a piece in the New Blood Wave magazine. Furthermore, he stated that
according to Warden U San Ya the magazine was found at a place far
away from his cell and this showed that he had nothing to do with
it. He said he did not participate in the publishing of the magazine
because he was too tired - both in body and mind - due to his constant
torture in prison.
Aung Myo Tint
Aung Myo Tint said he did not organize or discuss with Pyone Cho,
Yin Htway and Win Thein about the New Blood Wave magazine. He told
the court that his handwriting was different from those on pages
5, 28, 32, 33, 35, 37, 53 and 93 although the handwriting expert
claimed that these writings were his. He also said he had never
met Soe Myint or Ne Oo, and had not seen the news bulletin before.
Htay Win Aung
Htay Win Aung told the court that he was not allowed to hire a lawyer
to represent him. He pleaded not guilty on the grounds that the
charges against him were unfounded, that there was no proof to back
up the accusations, and that the prosecution testimonies were based
on information obtained through interrogation.
Yin Htway
Yin Htway stated he was not allowed to hire a lawyer to represent
him. He further testified that the accusations against him with
regard to the New Blood Wave magazine were erroneous. He asked the
court when it sentenced the prisoners to urge the authorities to
allow the others full rights of prisoners in prison.
Win Tin
Win Tin said he did what he believed was right and there was not
a single fact written that was incorrect. He told the court that
the loss of human rights and torture in prison were all genuine
and added that the prosecution could not prove that these points
were inaccurate.
He said he did not write the 'reports on the NLD'.
The facts contained in the letter to the UN he said were real, and
that he did not anything in the New Blood Wave magazine under the
name of 'De Hlaing'. He also told the court that the materials brought
to the court as evidence were all mixed up. He said the 'Ten Principles
To Unity' document was a confession from him during torture.
Win Tin said that although he wrote the letter to
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, it contained true accounts of what was going
on. He admitted that he wrote the piece 'To the Lady's Birthday'.
He said he met the UN delegation with the permssion of the authorities.
Win Tin pleaded not guilty on the grounds that all
he told the court was correct.
Hla Than
Hla Than attested that there was no way that he could have met Kyi
Pe Kyaw. Likewise, he said he did not meet Soe Htet khaing and Yhyo
Min Thein.
Ko Ko Oo (aka Bo Bo)
Ko Ko Oo pleaded not guilty on the grounds that the prosecution
was not able to produce any evidence against him.
Kyi Pe Kyaw (aka Kyaw Gyi)
Kyi Pe Kyaw said he did not co-operate with Phyo Min Thein, Hla
Than and Nyunt Zaw. He said the poem entitled 'Mother Irrawaddy'
was not included in any of the publications so he pleaded not guilty.
Kyaw Min Yu (aka Jimmy)
Kyaw Min Yu futher testified that he did not know anything about
the New Blood Wave magazine and that he did not distribute it. He
also said he was not involved in the letter to the UN written on
the prison shirt and that it was not true that he had written the
letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
He admitted that Evidence Category R was his handwriting,
but he pleaded not guilty on the grounds that the contents were
all based on true accounts.
Myat Tun
Myat Tun told that court that he was not guilty because the record
of news that he had collected during prison visits (Evidence Category
T) was accurate.
Win Tun
Win Tun told the court that it was true the search team found a
redio in his possession, but it was not true that he distributed
news to prisoners. He said he had no connection with the news bulletin
or the Diamond Jubilee magazine. This being the case, he said he
should only be punished in accordance with Section 42 of the prison
manual.
Sein Hlaing
Sein Hlaing countered the charges on the grounds that the materials
allegedly found in connection with him were all mixed up and that
the locations of where the materials were found were also presented
incorrectly to the court. He also told the court that prisoners
from Halls 3 and4 could not see each other and that for this reason
he had no way of meeting with Myo Myint Nyein.
Zaw Myint Maung
Zaw Myint Maung said he did not sign his name on the message of
congratulations [to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi] and did not write a letter
to her on her release [from house arrest]/ He said it was also incorrect
that he had written a poem in the Diamond Jubilee magazine and said
he had never read the New Blood Wave magazine, stating that he did
not even know where it was found.
Zaw Myint Maung said the sample of his handwriting
had not been taken in accordance with the law and asserted that
he was being tried for political reasons.
Soe Myint
Soe Myint contended that he was not guilty because no witnesses
other than U Khin Htay and U Ye Tun accused him of the crimes.
Ba Myo Thein
Regarding the accusation that Ba Myo Thein drew illustrations in
the Diamond Jubilee magazine as shown in the evidence, the accused
claimed this evidence had not been obtained in accordance with the
regulations. He denied his participation in the letter to the UN
and the endorsement on behalf of Da Nya Ta. He said tht the letter
was written by Win Tin alone.
Ba Myo Thein Pleaded not guilty.
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