Mizzima News

New Delhi - The Burmese military junta has sentenced 10 student activists, who were arrested during last year's September protests, to two years in prison with hard labour.  They have been sent to labour camps, according to a political prisoners welfare group.

The Thailand based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPP-B) on Friday said, a township court in Rangoon's Kyauk Tada Township had sentenced 10 Burmese students, who were arrested on October 20, 2007 to two years in jail and sent them to labour camps.

"They were produced in court this week and were sentenced to two years and are sent off to labour camps," AAPP's Joint Secretary Tate Naing said.

Tate Naing said, the unlawful arrest and sentence of the 10 Burmese students is an act of religious persecution, apart from political repression, as the students are  Muslims.

"I think the junta is purposely doing this as an act of religious discrimination," Tate Naing said.

According to AAPP, the 10 Muslim students were sent to various labour camps across the country including Kyaikmayaw labor camp (6), Paan New Life labor camp (7), Taung Zun, Zin Kyaik labor camp, and Yinnyein labor camps.

The AAPP said, at least 19 Buddhist monks, who were arrested for leading the 2007 September protest, have died in labour camps due to ill treatment, and lack of proper medical care in addition to the torture by prison authorities.

"Labour camps are hard place even for strong people. There is no chance for young students and monks to survive in the camps," Tate Naing, who has experienced the rigours of Burma's labour camps, said.

Tate Naing said, Burma's military junta might have arrested the young Muslim students out of  fear that their involvement in the protests during September might provoke the Muslim community in Burma.

"The junta seems to be scared of religious groups. So in order to repress the Buddhists they have brutally cracked down on Buddhist monks and like wise these young students might have been arrested to subdue the Muslim community," Tate Naing added.