Editor faces 13 years behind bars

Friday, 15 October 2010 11:34 Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A special tribunal in Insein prison on October 13 sentenced Kandarawaddy news journal editor Nyi Nyi Tun and businessman Soe Tun Oo to prison terms of 13 and eight years, respectively.

The Seikkan Township court, sitting inside Insein prison, found Nyi Nyi Tun guilty under section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, section 13(1) of the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 505(b) of the Penal Code and section 6(1) of the Wireless Act. Meanwhile, Soe Moe Tun was sentenced for violating the association and immigration acts.

After being sentenced, Nyi Nyi Tun told family members that he was tortured during interrogation. He also handed them a piece of paper reading, “Comrades! The junta gave me a 13-year prison term for serving as a matchmaker between people and politics,” according to his lawyer Kyaw Hoe.

"They were given maximum sentences. There were no eyewitnesses in these cases. They could not prove the cases with sound evidence," their lawyer told Mizzima.

Police officers from the Rangoon Division Police Chief Office arrested Nyi Nyi Tun and Soe Moe Tun in Thingangyun Township of Rangoon Division upon suspicion of having connections with a series of bomb blasts that rocked Rangoon in October 2009.

"Instead of encouraging media development, they obstructed media, which is the ears and eyes of the country. So, our media association condemns these matters," responded Zin Lin, vice-chairman of the exile-based Burma Media Association (BMA).

Nyi Nyi Tun had been working as editor-in-chief of the Kandarawaddy news journal, published in the Kayah special region since 2007. Following his arrest the journal was closed. Soe Tun Oo is a businessman.

Advocates Kyaw Hoe and Tin Tun, the latter of who is the father of Soe Tun Oo, gave notice they would appeal the verdicts within the mandated 30-day period.

The Thai-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) website lists nearly 2,200 political prisoners in various prisons across Burma.