Mizzima News

New Delhi – Western District Court in Rangoon sentenced solo protester Ohn Than to life imprisonment yesterday.

Ohn Than was sentenced to life imprisonment and received a 1,000 kyat fine (1 dollar = 1,100 kyat) under section 124(a) of the Criminal Code, disaffection towards the State by staging a protest on the 23rd of August 2007 in front of the U.S. Embassy.

In his protest he shouted slogans in support of democracy, for economic reform and development, the establishment of a government representing the people, for self determination, the abolition of the dictatorship and for U.N. supervision in Burma.

"He said in his final argument that the government is not the lawful government under the constitution, since it assumed power by staging a coup. So the punishment given to him is unlawful too," a man who attended the court hearing repeated.

He also raised the question to the court as to why the authorities let protesters led by Aye Lwin of the 88 New Generation Students (Union of Myanmar) stage a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy against sanctions imposed by Western countries. They are not punished like him and even protected by the authorities, he argued.

Ohn Than staged a solo protest for the first time in front of the U.N. Development Programme's office in 2004, for which he received a sentence of 2 years imprisonment. He was subsequently arrested about six times in 2007 alone for protesting against rising commodity prices and expressing his desire.

Ohn Than can appeal the judgment within 2 months.