The military junta has sentenced 16 people, including a female social activist arrested for alleged links to the Arakha Army (AA), and some government employees and sent them immediately to Insein Prison in Yangon, according to reports.
Those taken to Insein Prison include Ma Mee Mee, aka Ma Yuan Thu Thu Aung, aka Ma Aye Aye Naing, a social activist in her 30s from Airport Ward in Ann, U Saw Shwe Maung, assistant director of the Ann Township Planning Department, a teacher and an employee of Mytel’s telecommunications department, totaling 16 people.
They were charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for alleged links to the AA. The sentencing took place in the Ann Township court by 10:30 pm on the morning of 9 August, according to a source in Ann Township.
“Although Ann doesn’t normally have military courts or such proceedings, this speedy investigation and sentencing process is like a military tribunal. The accused were not given the right to defend themselves or present their case. This has essentially deprived them of their legal rights. They were given the maximum sentence. Apparently, there was pressure from above,” the source said.
The 16 people were taken to Insein prison in Yangon by a military logistics plane on the afternoon of 12 August, the source added.
Among them was social activist Ma Mee Mee, who was arrested by the military intelligence, along with her husband, an employee from the Ministry of Education, when they went to collect their salary from the Ann Township Education Office recently.
Her husband was later released, while Ma Mee Mee was charged under Section 17(1) and imprisoned.
“She was wrongfully arrested and jailed for allegedly supporting the AA by helping the Nippon Foundation in Ann with rice donations last year,” the source explained.
Similarly, U Saw Shwe Maung was arrested in February and has now been imprisoned.
It is not known when and where the other 14 people were arrested.
Sent by Narinjara.