Court tacks on heavy additional sentences for several political prisoners in Dawei

By DMG 08 Oct 2022

DMG Newsroom
8 October 2022, Dawei

Ten political prisoners serving prison terms in Tanintharyi Region’s Dawei were hit with additional, lengthy sentences on October 5, according to the Dawei Political Prisoners Network (DPPN).

Four of the political prisoners were given an additional 20 years behind bars, and six others were hit with another 10 years, said a DPPN official.

The four political prisoners who were sentenced to 20 more years are Ko Tun Oo, Ko Yazar Tun, Ko Myat Kyaw Thu and Ko Min Hset Hmu. The four had already been handed down sentences of 26 years, 21 years, nine years and eight years, respectively.

The six others given 10 more years behind bars are Ko Sai Min Thu; Ko Lin Htet Ko Ko; Ko Saung Yu Tun; Ko Thet Paing Oo; Ko Aung Aung Latt; and Ko Aung Aung. Thursday’s verdict brought Ko Sai Min Thu’s prison sentence to a total of 31 years; Ko Lin Htet Ko Ko and Ko Saung Yu Tun’s to 13 years each; Ko Thet Paing Oo’s to 19 years; and Ko Aung Aung Latt and Ko Aung Aung’s to 12 years.

The 10 political prisoners were given additional sentences under Section 50(j) and 54 of the Counter-Terrorism Law, and Section 302/32 of the Penal Code, by the Dawei District Court, said another DPPN official.

“They were given prison sentences under terrorism and murder charges. Three of them still face other charges,” he said.

Family members of the 10 prisoners denounced the verdicts as unjust.

“It is not fair that they were given long-term jail sentences. We are sad, and concerned for their health,” said a family member of one of the men.

More than 250 political prisoners — over 200 men and over 50 women — are being held in Dawei Prison after being convicted on political and terrorism-related charges since last year’s military coup. Two of them have been given life sentences, according to DPPN.