Htin Kyaw sentenced to another year in prison
Activist Htin Kyaw, leader of the Movement for Democracy Current Force, was given another year prison with hard labour, this time from the Mayangon Township Court on August 11 for staging another anti-government protest.
Htin Kyaw had staged a protest against the government at Thamine Junction in Mayangon Township, reiterating his opposition to the military-backed government and asserting his belief that the people of Myanmar are the true rulers of the country. He also distributed leaflets expressing his opposition to the government.
Township police charged him with insulting the state, an offence under Section 505 (B) of the Penal Code.
As he left the court he raised his hand and extended three fingers as a signal of defiance. The gesture is a sign of opposition to dictatorship.
Htin Kyaw’s wife, Than Than Maw, said her husband – who faces more charges in other townships of Yangon – has been sentenced to six years in prison so far. “We will continue to support him,” she said, adding that she was running a store from her home in order to support herself.
Htin Kyaw had been already sentenced to four and half years in prison with hard labour by five township courts for violating the contentious legislation.
He has also been sentenced to three months in prison by the Kyauktada Township Court for violating Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act for protesting against the eviction of Thameekalay village.
Bahan Township Court sentenced him to three months for leading a protest in front of Aung San Suu Kyi’s house.
He has received a six months sentence for violating Section 18. Htin Kyaw said the gathering outside Suu Kyi’s house was not a protest, but a request for assistance on behalf of villagers from Myangone Township who had no place to live and nothing to eat after being evicted from their homes.
