Mizzima News

Chiang Mai – Suu Suu Nwe, National League for Democracy party leader and human rights activist was sentenced to 12 and-a-half years in prison by a court in session inside Insein prison.

A friend of Nwe, on condition of anonymity, revealed that the information relating to her sentence by the court in session inside Insein prison was given by a prison official.

"We could not meet her today. We sent what she asked for with other people who could meet family members today during regular prison visits. We learnt of the news from the prison staff," he said.

She is in good health though she suffers from heart disease. She is being held in Insein prison at present. But the details of her case are still being inquired.

The police arrested Suu Suu Nwe on November 14, 2007 while she was pasting anti-junta posters in front of 'Mya Yeik Nyo' Hotel.

She was charged under the Unlawful Assembly Act and inducing crime against public tranquility and disaffection towards State and Government.

During the trial, she staged a hunger strike in September this year after she was refused permission to meet her family members in prison.

Similarly her co-defendant Bo Bo Win Hlaing was sentenced to eight years in prison by the same court today. He had joined her in pasting anti-regime posters.

Human right activist Suu Suu Nwe, hailing from Htanmanaing village in Kawhmu Township, was awarded the '2006 John Humphrey Award' by the Canada based 'Human Right and Democracy Organization'. Along with 88 Gen woman student Ma Nilar Thein, who helped HIV/AIDS victims, she was also awarded the 'Homo Homini Award' by Czech based 'The People-in-Need' while she was in detention.