Nine More Activists Sentenced in Insein Prison

By MIN LWIN

Nine more political activists were sentenced by special courts in Insein Prison on Monday on charges including involvement in public demonstrations, illegal assembly and resisting officials, according to sources familiar with the prison.

The harshest sentences were given to Htin Kyaw, one of the solo protesters in 2007demonstrations against deteriorating economic and social conditions, who received a 12 and one-half year sentence, and Sandar Wara, a monk from Thiri Zayyar Monastery in North Okklapa Township in Rangoon, who received an eight and one-half year sentence.

The closed-door trials also handed down six and one-half year sentences each to Sithu Maung, Ye Min Oo, Ye Myat Hein and Zin Lin Aung, leading members of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), and three activists, Myo Thant, Kyi Phyu and Thein Swe of the National League for Democracy youth division.

Sithu Maung and Honey Oo, both in theirs 20s, have been detained in Insein Prison since they were apprehended by security forces in South Okkalapa Township in Rangoon on October 9 last year.

Honey Oo was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment on Thursday, sources said.

Sithu Maung was a student at the Institute of Economics in Rangoon. Honey Oo was a student at the University of Rangoon.

U Peter and Nu Nu Swe, the parents of Sithu Maung, were sentenced to six years in prison on August 8, 2008, charged with resisting officials after they failed to open a door when intelligence officers tried to enter their home while searching for their son.

Also on Monday, the Burmese blogger, Nay Phone Latt, who earlier received a 20-year prison sentence, was transferred from Insein Prison to Hpa-an Prison in Karen State, according to sources close to the prison.

Sources also said that another monk, Ashin Khaymar Wantha, was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Friday.

Since Saturday, Burmese military authorities have transferred numerous political prisoners in Insein Prison, including well-known activists Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, to remote prisons across the country.

On Sunday, the lawyers for several activists, Aung Thein and Khin Maung Shein, were transferred to Bassein Prison and Myaung Mya Prison in Irrawaddy Division, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma.

Both lawyers were sentenced on October 7 by the Hlaing Township court to four months imprisonment for contempt of court.

Also on Sunday, at least 11 political prisoners whose names are not known were transferred from Insein Prison to remote prisons, according to sources.