A special court in Myitkyina prison sentenced 13 Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers to five-year’s imprisonment each on 7 April, a source confirmed to Mizzima.

They were arrested at a restaurant in Myitkyina in November last year, and each will have to suffer two years for Section 17 (1) of Unlawful Associations Act, and three years for Article 52 (a) of Counterterrorism Law.

"The family members were not allowed to visit to the prisoners in the past to give them basic supplies. However, now that we can send some items for them," a local news source said.

After they were detained, the military made more arrests related to their cases.