Trial of Chinese embassy protesters continues
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The trial against six activists who led a protest at the Chinese Embassy in December last year against the killing of a female protester Khin Win during the clashes between police and local people in Letpadaungtaung copper mine project area continued with
The eleventh court hearing took place at the Dagon Township Court on Tuesday.
On the day, one of the protest leaders on trial, Nay Myo Zin from the Myanmar Social Development Association, was wounded in the back during the protest. He arrived at the court on a stretcher.
In his statement, Nay Myo Zin defended his involvement in the demonstration.
He admitted that he participated in the protest staged on December 29 last year.
No clashes occurred between police and the protesters and there were only some pushing and shoving between them, he said.
Yet, there were violent attacks from Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd (MWMCL), the operator of the mine, against the protesters. Nay Myo Zin believed that the staff, holding a Chinese flag, considered that the protesters encroached another country’s sovereignty.
The five other defendants, Naw Ohn Hla, Sein Htwe, Tin Htut Paing, Lay Lay and Than Swe, who were charged under sections 505 (b), 147 and 353 of the Penal of Code of Myanmar were also questioned.
“At today’s court trial, the six defendants including Nay Myo Zin were questioned over the three sections with which they have been charged. The next trial will be on March 31 in which they will be questioned under section 18 (of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law),” said Robert San Aung, lawyer for the six defendants.
They were arrested on December 30 and charged under six sections of the Penal Code of Myanmar.
