Immediate release of AAPP Statement

Date: October 30, 2008

On October 29th 2008, nine leaders of the 88 Generation Students Group were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by Northern Rangoon district court.
During the court hearing, Min Ko Naing and other defendants stood up and complained about the lack of a free and independent judiciary. The presiding judge accused them of interrupting court procedures and charged them under Section 228 of the Penal Code for contempt of court. He handed down a six-month sentence for nine student leaders - Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Mya Aye, Pyone Cho (aka) Htay Win Aung, Aung Thu, Htay Kywe, Nyan Lin, Myo Aung Naing, and Hla Myo Naung. The remaining defendants in court stood up and demanded that the judge sentence them too. The judge ordered security forces to remove the defendants from the court and adjourned the trial.
“Trials for political prisoners are grossly unfair,” said Ko Tate, secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). “Judges and law officers are not operating independently of the ruling State Peace and Development Council. In this case 88 Generation leaders have been harshly punished simply for calling for their right to a free and fair trial to be respected.”

- ENDS -

Back ground information
1. Min Ko Naing (Paw Oo Tun) was arrested on 22 August 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
2. Ko Ko Gyi was arrested on 22 August 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
3. Mya Aye (Thu Ya) was arrested on 22 August 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
4. Pyone Cho (Htay Win Aung) was arrested on 22 August 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
5. Aung Thu was arrested on 13 October 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
6. Htay Kywe was arrested on 13 October 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
7. Nyan Lin was arrested on 21 August 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
8. Myo Aung Naing (Aung Naing) was arrested on 23 October 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.
9. Hla Myo Naung was arrested on 10 October 2007 and charged with the section 5/96(4), 505/b, 33/a, 17/20, 17/1, 32/b/36, 24/1, 130/b, 6.


AAPP
More information, please contact:
Ko Tate Naing on +66-(0)81-2878751
Ko Bo Kyi on +66-(0) 81-3248935