A Yangon University professor Dr Akar Moe Thu of the Department of Oriental Studies has delivered a message from Insein Prison that the Military Council has violated the civil service law and that the arbitrary arrest and imprisonment of teachers is an unlawful crime.

His message was conveyed to Mizzima by Myo Myo Aye, a director of the United Federation of Unions (Myanmar).

Dr. Akar Moe Thu was arrested by the Military Council under Section 505-A of the Penal Code and sentenced to three years in prison by the Insein Central Prison Court on January 17.

Dr Akar Moe Thu delivered a message from prison that the sentencing ignores the dignity and ethics of a university professor as well as it was against the standard of the World Teachers’ Conference.

Myo Myo Aye explained that the professor was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour.

“His arrest was against the civil service law. If junta troops want to arrest him, they have to ask his superior for permission. Then they have to investigate. He can be arrested only if he was guilty. He said it was illegal to arrest and imprison him beyond that. We wants the unions to speak out on the lack of justice,” he said.

Myo Myo Aye said he had been sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour, but hoped to be able to receive benefit for the days of detention prior to the sentencing.

Dr. Akar Moe Thu, a professor of Oriental Stadies, is one of the co-founders of Dagon University Teachers Union. He also led the University Teachers' Non-Violent Movement (CDM).

Dr. Akar Moe Thu was arrested at gun-point by junta troops on March 1, 2021, near Hlaing campus, Yangon University.