By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar court has freed six people who called for the release of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi last December, but sentenced another activist to 104 years in prison.  Bo Min Yu Ko, a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was sentenced to 104 years in prison, according to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Three others activists remained in detention, according to the relatives.

Bo Min Yu Ko was arrested on September 18, 2008 and charged under different laws, said the AAPP.  He was not allowed to be represented by a lawyer, and his family was prevented from attending the trial.  “This is yet another harsh and cruel sentence handed down by the regime’s kangaroo courts,” said Bo Kyi, joint AAPP secretary. “The courts are not independent and simply follow orders from the regime,” he adds.

Three other members of the ABFSU were also sentenced in late December.  Kay Thi Aung, who is pregnant, was sentenced to 26 years; Ko Nyi was sentenced to 50 years; and Wai Myo Htoo was sentenced to 26 years, according to Tun Tun, an ABFSU member.

Since October 2008, Myanmar courts have tried and sentenced at least 280 political activists.
Courts have handed down hundreds of jail sentences ranging up to 65 years to political prisoners.   Some says that the apparent effort is to clear the country of dissent before a scheduled general election in 2010.  Myanmar has been under Junta rule since 1962 after Junta crushed a nationwide pro-democracy uprising. It held elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results after Suu Kyi’s party won.

For more information, please see:

AP – Report: Myanmar activist gets 104 years in jail – 14 January 2009

EarthTimes – Myanmar dissident gets 104 years in jail – 14 January 2009

Irrawaddy – 104 Years Given to Political Dissident – 14 January 2009