Rights Members Jailed For Talking To Media And Supporting Monks

8 January 2008
Original report by Naw Say Paw, DVB

The appeals against a 2 year sentence for each of the three Human Rights Defender and Promoters network members , including a monk, have been rejected, it is reported.

A Shin Pan Tita aka U Myint Aye, Ko Thet Oo and Ko Zaw Tun were all arrested before 17 September last year, during which time, A Shin Pan Tita was forcefully derobed and beaten.

On 7 November, all three men were charged under section 505b and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by U Maung Maung, a judge of Prome district magistrate court. Yesterday, their appeal against the decision was rejected, according to U Myint Aye, leader of HRDP network.

"If you look at the judgement, it seems that you are jailed because you talk to the media to report the events, you are jailed because you support the monks' parading and radiating love to everyone. By doing that you have to stay 2 years in prison, This is to stop people talking to media, which means there is no freedom of speech. A violation of basic human rights", said U Mying Aye.

In June, 2007, Ko Myint Naing and Ko Kyaw Lwin both members of Hinthada HRDP network and their supporters, 4 villagers from Oat Pone were all found guilty and sentenced to periods of from 4 to 8 years imprisonment.

Ko Kyaw Soe from Taunggyi and Ko Aung Zaw Oo from Hinthada HRDP networks were arrested and detained in connection with the September protests.