Junta sentences activist to 104 years in prison

by The The

Wednesday, 14 January 2009 23:57

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Burma's military junta authorities have sentenced a student activist, Bo Min Yu Ko, to a total of 104 years in prison, the longest term so far, early in January, the Thailand based Assistant Association of Political Prisoners (Burma) said. Bo Min Yu Ko, also known as Phyo Gyi, is a member of the All Burma Federation of Students Union (ABFSU) Upper Burma, and was arrested on September 13, last year. The 21-year old activist was charged under various acts including association with illegal organizations, causing disrespect to the nation and six counts of the Immigration Act, Bo Kyi, AAPPB's Joint Secretary told Mizzima. "He [Bo Min Yu Ko] has been sentenced to the longest prison term among all student activists. This reveals that the junta is sentencing at random with venom against him," Bo Kyi said. He is currently detained in Ohbo Prison in Burma's second largest city of Mandalay, where authorities conducted his trial in the absence of a defence counsel. In December, the Ohbo prison court sentenced 10 other ABFSU members including a woman activist Kay Thi Aung, who is five months pregnant, to more than 20 years each. Since August 2008, Burma's military rulers have tried activists in prison courts across the country and sentenced scores of political activists and their supporters on charges relating to involvement in peaceful demonstrations or freedom of expression. So far nearly more than at least 250 political activists have been sentenced < Prev   Next >