Media Statement
11 November 2008
Nay Myo Kyaw (aka) Nay Phone Latt was yesterday sentenced to twenty years and six months by vice district Judge Daw Soe Nyan from Northern Rangoon district. His trial was held behind closed doors in Insein prison special court. Nay Phone Latt is a youth member of the National League for Democracy and one of Burma’s best-known bloggers. He owns the Explorer Internet café in Rangoon’s Pabedan Township, the Heaven Internet café in Thingangyun Township and a third in the same suburb of Rangoon. Authorities had been watching him since he returned from a trip to Singapore in 2007. He was arrested at his Thingangyun Township home in Rangoon on 29 January 2008 together with Thin July Kyaw.
Thin July Kyaw (aka) Pho Mu (aka) Karin Ma was yesterday sentenced to two years and six months during the same proceedings. Thin July Kyaw, an activist, is from Dagon Township in Rangoon.
Lawyer U Aung Thein had been representing both activists, but he himself was sentenced to four months imprisonment on 7 November 2008 under section 3 of the Contempt of Court Act.
Poet Saw Wai from Phyu Township in Pegu division was also sentenced yesterday, to two years imprisonment. He was arrested on 22 January 2008, after his poem mocking Than Shwe entitled “February 14” was published in the Love Journal. The first words of each line of the poem spelled out “Power Crazy Senior General Than Shwe”.
Ko Bo Kyi, Joint-Secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), said, “Trials of political activists are totally unlawful. There is no possibility of justice through these proceedings. Detainees are being denied food and water during hearings and are forced to stand for long periods of time. When they try to protest by turning their backs to the court, they are grabbed by the neck and forced to face the court. These proceedings amount to further mental torture for activists.”
- ENDS -
Background Information
- Nay Myo Kyaw (aka) Nay Phone Latt was charged under section 505/b of the Penal Code, articles 32/b & 36 of the Video Act, and articles 33/a & 38 of the Electronic Transactions Law.
- Nay Phone Latt’s blog can be viewed at www.nayphonelatt.blogspot.com
- Thin July Kyaw (aka) Pho Mu (aka) Karin Ma was charged with section 505/b and articles 32/b & 36 of the Video Act.
- Saw Wai was charged under section 505/b of the Penal Code.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) |
