Tuesday, 24 January 2012 21:27 Phanida
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A hearing for former political prisoner Nay Myo Zin who is charged with taking illegal items into Insein Prison while he was an inmate was held on Tuesday. The court is likely to deliver a verdict soon, sources said.
Nay Myo Zin, a former Burmese Army captain, was sentenced to 10 years in prison under the Electronics Act in August 2011. He was released from prison on January 12 in the presidential amnesty.
Insein Prison authorities have now charged him with taking illegal items into the prison including T-shirts bearing General Aung San’s portrait and key ring holders bearing Aung San Suu Kyi’s photograph.
“I have to testify today,” Nay Myo Zin told Mizzima. “The judge asked me who gave the T-shirts to me when I went to the hospital and with what intention did I take the shirts into the prison. I was asked where I kept the shirts and whether I filled out a search form.”
Nay Myo Zin said that when he was admitted to Kyimyindaing Hospital in Rangoon to receive medical treatment on August 23, 2011, members of a National League for Democracy blood donation group came to visit him and gave him various items. When he was discharged from the hospital, he showed the items to prison security officials and then took them into the prison.
Nay Myo Zin took two T-shirts bearing General Aung San’s portrait, six key ring holders bearing General Aung San and Aung San Suu Kyi’s photographs, three photos of Aung San Suu Kyi, two badges with the text, “General Aung San is the father of the army,” 15 stickers with General Aung San’s photograph and a Newsweek journal that contained a picture of a meeting of Burmese President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nay Myo Zin said his trial reflects the split nature of the newly formed government at this time. While President Thein Sein is instituting reforms, lower-level staff still follow the former junta’s attitudes and customs, he said.
“They may be worried that they could be held accountable. Or maybe their superior officials failed to revoke the 20-year old attitudes in which General Aung San’s picture was not allowed, so they do it based on the old attitudes,” Nay Myo Zin said.
On January 27, Nay Myo Zin’s lawyer Hla Myin will present his defense. A verdict could be handed down by the end of the month.
Nay Myo Zin, 36, is a former Burmese army captain; he served for 10 years. He resigned from the army in 2005. He actively took part in an NLD-affiliated blood donation and social group.
Nay Myo Zin, a former Burmese Army captain, was sentenced to 10 years in prison under the Electronics Act in August 2011. He was released from prison on January 12 in the presidential amnesty.
Insein Prison authorities have now charged him with taking illegal items into the prison including T-shirts bearing General Aung San’s portrait and key ring holders bearing Aung San Suu Kyi’s photograph.
“I have to testify today,” Nay Myo Zin told Mizzima. “The judge asked me who gave the T-shirts to me when I went to the hospital and with what intention did I take the shirts into the prison. I was asked where I kept the shirts and whether I filled out a search form.”
Nay Myo Zin said that when he was admitted to Kyimyindaing Hospital in Rangoon to receive medical treatment on August 23, 2011, members of a National League for Democracy blood donation group came to visit him and gave him various items. When he was discharged from the hospital, he showed the items to prison security officials and then took them into the prison.
Nay Myo Zin took two T-shirts bearing General Aung San’s portrait, six key ring holders bearing General Aung San and Aung San Suu Kyi’s photographs, three photos of Aung San Suu Kyi, two badges with the text, “General Aung San is the father of the army,” 15 stickers with General Aung San’s photograph and a Newsweek journal that contained a picture of a meeting of Burmese President Thein Sein and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Nay Myo Zin said his trial reflects the split nature of the newly formed government at this time. While President Thein Sein is instituting reforms, lower-level staff still follow the former junta’s attitudes and customs, he said.
“They may be worried that they could be held accountable. Or maybe their superior officials failed to revoke the 20-year old attitudes in which General Aung San’s picture was not allowed, so they do it based on the old attitudes,” Nay Myo Zin said.
On January 27, Nay Myo Zin’s lawyer Hla Myin will present his defense. A verdict could be handed down by the end of the month.
Nay Myo Zin, 36, is a former Burmese army captain; he served for 10 years. He resigned from the army in 2005. He actively took part in an NLD-affiliated blood donation and social group.
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