April 9, 2016

Interfaith Activists Sentenced To Two More Years In Prison

Amid news of charges being cleared against political detainees, in a court in Mandalay’s Chanayethazan Township, two Muslim interfaith activists were sentenced to two more years in prison—with labor—on Friday for allegedly associating with unlawful organizations.

Zaw Zaw Latt and Pwint Phyu Latt were arrested for photos shared on social media which depicted a visit to across the Indo-Burma border to Mizoram State in 2014 and a charity trip to a war torn area of Kachin State.

In a picture, Zaw Zaw Latt posed with a M16 rifle as he met with some members of the Kachin Independance Army (KIA) during his visit to displaced people’s camps in the region in 2013.

“Although some courts that have dropped the charges against student activists, we believe there are some processes still working between the government and the court. We believe in Aunty Suu’s government that we will be finally free on New Year,” said Zaw Zaw Latt after the court appearance, referring to State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s announcement that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government would work to release political prisoners during the upcoming period of the Thingyan water festival. (Courtesy of Irrawaddy)

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