Former air force officer sentenced to two years

by Phanida
Friday, 04 September 2009 22:35

Chaing Mai (Mizzima) – A retired air force Captain Zaw Nyunt, who demonstrated alone demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, while she was on trial, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Insein township court.

Zaw Nyunt (56) held aloft a poster saying "Saving Suu is Saving Burma" in front of Insein prison on May 28. He was sentenced today under Act No. 505 (B) of for agitating to destablise the country.

"The reading of the final verdict took about 20 minutes. It concluded at 11:45 a.m., said defence lawyer Maung Maung Latt.

In the trial, four police lieutenants from Insein Township and two ordinary civilians were produced as witnesses by the prosecutor.

"They said he frightened the public. They arrested him in two minutes flat. After arresting him at the back of the bazaar he shouted "Free Aung San Suu Kyi" only once. Many even didn’t realise what was happening. So, how did he destablise the country?" asked Maung Maung Latt.

A close associate who met Zaw Nyunt during the trial told Mizzima that two of his teeth were broken because of the beating he received from the police.

Zaw Nyunt, an English language teacher following retirement participated in the 1988 people’s movement and founded the Worker’s Solidarity Organization but the organization later was banned by the military junta.

Similarly, Htwe Thein, a member of NLD living in Shwepyithar Township, who was arrested while DASSK was facing tria, was sentenced to two years by the court on August 10.

The Thailand based Association of Assistance for Political Prisoners (AAPP) released a statement today saying that there are 2,211 political prisoners in Burma's prisons.