Soloist U Ohn Than's Trial

28 December 2007
Original report : DVB Aye Nai, Thailand

For U Ohn Than, demonstrating, being arrested and then thrown into prison are all becoming part of his normal life as he has been through it many times over, with not a thought of giving up. When he appeared before Kyauktada Magistrate court today however, there was no hearing and his case was adjourned to 9th January . It is also reported that members of his family are banned from attending the hearings.

Known as 'The Soloist', the 62 years old U Ohn Than stood infront of the US Embassy on 23 August, holding 6 different posters and was arrested and detained in Insein prison. His posters showed slogans including;

'Form a Government , That Represents the People',

'Listen and Act On What People Want',

'End Military Ruling, Now' and

'China and Russia's Vetoes - Go To Hell'.

Ma Ei Ei Maw, U Ohn Than's daughter, who came to attend today's trial but was denied entry to the court room, told DVB that her father was taken upstairs into the court room but only for a while. 'They closed the door after my father was taken upstairs and didn't allowed me to follow him. He was brought down again within a few minutes. Nobody explained or informed me much. All I learnt was that there will be another hearing on 9th January. I have no idea if we will learn about the Judge's decision on that day nor will the family be allowed to be present. It is very confusing. '

U Ohn Than is being charged under section 505 (b) for incitement of offences against the state and or the government and against the public tranquillity, which could lead to two years imprisonment.

It is understood that U Ohn Than is representing himself in court. The current arrest and detention is the 6th for the 'soloist' protester, who has served years of imprisonment for the first 2 sentences. For his later offences, he was released within months.

Tin Ko Latt from Thar Kayta, Rangoon, who was arrested during the September protests, who also appeared before court today, was given the next hearing date.

According to the eye witness report, today's court hearing was well attended by personnel from the political elite and members from Myanmar Development and Progress Group, which was led by Ko Htin Kyaw before his arrest.