Mizzima

Prominent peaceful protest leader, Wai Mo Naing, was convicted on Friday of high treason and received an additional prison sentence of 20 years, bringing his total prison sentence to 54 years. 

Before this particular case, Wai Mo Naing had already been sentenced to 34 years in prison under eight different charges.

On Friday, the Monywa Prison court utilized Article 122 of the Penal Code to extend Wai Mo Naing's sentence by 20 years for the charge of high treason.

Furthermore, Wai Mo Naing, 26, is set to face an additional case in which he has been formally accused of inciting the murder of two police officers in the Industrial Zone Ward of Monywa, Sagaing Region in 2021.

Wai Moe Naing is the founder and inaugural president of the Monywa University Student Union. Apart from his activism, he is also a writer, having authored numerous short stories, magazine articles and online blogs.

On 15 April, 2021, in Monywa, Wai Moe Naing was among a group of protesting students riding motorcycles together. However, the situation took a grave turn as junta’s troops and police intentionally rammed their cars into the protestors’ motorcycles, ultimately leading to Wai Moe Naing's arrest.

Sources close to Wai Moe Naing said that the lawyers representing Wai Mo Naing have faced threats. 

The Monywa People's Strike Steering Committee has issued a statement expressing strong objection to the courts under the junta for levying unjust accusations against all political figures.