(Remarks: The words in the {brackets} are by the translator.) BBC (Burmese Service), London Broadcasted in Burmese language on April 8, 2005
Today, Taunggyi township court gives 14 years imprisonment to elected MP Kyaw Khin of National League for Democracy (Taunggyi township branch). Our BBC correspondent Win Myint of Bangkok bureau interviewed Khin Moe Moe, the lawyer for the defendant. She explains as follow-
The Lawyer: Today, the court made the order. The criminal Trail Number is 21-055. He was sentenced for seven years under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act, section- 5 j (EPA- 5 j). The other act was law related to printing. He also received seven years for this charge. The court sentenced separately for the two charges. So, he totally received 14 years imprisonment.
BBC: Yes.
The Lawyer: The judge analyzed about the documents and photos belonging to Kyaw Khin. Thereís a sheet which says the list of awards Aung San Suu Kyi received. Her photo is on the sheet. Thereís a sentence on the photo which say "There will be changed because all the military has are guns". The judge said that the sheet is not just a list of the awards and the sentence provokes (for the disorder). Moreover, the judge said that thereís a sentence next to the photo which says "Set her free!". So, he was sentenced {under EPA-e}. Concerning the act related to printing law, the judge said that those documents are printed without the permission and registration. He (received another seven years) as he was not able to prove that those documents are registered.
BBC: Didnít the NLD officially distributed it?
The Lawyer: The judge said that itís photo stat copy and he had illegally copied the sheet distributed by NLD.
BBC: If so, he received imprisonment for a sheet? The Lawyer: The sheet mentioned the list of the awards and the sheet titled in "Burma in 2005, as told by astrologers" broadcasted by BBC {Burmese Service}. Actually, Kyaw Khin didnít distribute it. A tuition teacher found it and gave it to the authorities.
BBC: What will be happened if he appeals on the judgment? The Lawyer: I as well as my client will appeal to the other higher court. He was nothing wrong in this case. We had already decided to appeal even to the high court.
Information Team
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
66 55 545495
P.O Box 93, Mae Sot, Tak 63110, Thiland
https://www.aappb.org - https://www.aappb.net
|