Man jailed again for staging walk

Win Htike Hein was charged under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law.
According to the statements made by plaintiffs and witnesses, Win Htike Hein applied for official permission to stage a commemorative walk together with about 60 students but the authorities only allowed him to hold the event at designated place in Tamwe Township.
However, he was arrested and jailed because he failed to comply with the law by leading the students in staging the walk through Yangon townships. 
“When I was granted a letter of permission, I returned it to the authorities as Tamwe Township is not a place where I sought permission. When I was brought to trial, I requested the court for leniency because we walked as a gesture to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of our General Aung San,” he said.
“But now I have received a one-month jail sentence with hard labour. What I have come to know is that the law does not favour the people and it is in the hands of the authoritarians.”
Win Htike Hein and the students walked through six townships starting from Kyinmyindine to Kyauktada on December 8 last year.
He was charged under the same law by the courts in all the six townships. He was released from prison on February 6 after the Latha Township Court sentenced him to one month in prison. He is still facing trials at the remaining four courts.
According to data compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), at the end of March, 173 political prisoners remain incarcerated in the country, with 316 activists currently awaiting trial for political actions. In March alone, a total of 92 political activists were charged in March, 31 of which were arrested. 7 were sentenced, and 3 were released.
"The government continues to disregard its responsibility to adhere to international human rights standards, and instead violates the rights of its citizens, oppresses media, and violently cracks down on any form of dissent or opposition," it said.