Prosecution proceeds in Peaceful Assembly Law case against three Taungup men 

By DMG 06 Jul 2021

DMG Newsroom
6 July 2021, Taungup 

Two prosecution witnesses were heard by the Taungup Township Court on Monday in a case against three Taungup residents, including a member of the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), who have been charged under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. 

U Khin Maung Htay, a lawyer for the defendants, said that an investigator and U Than Hlaing, the administrator of Thein Taung Ward in Taungup, appeared before the court on July 5.  

“An investigator and Ward Administrator U Than Hlaing were examined and the next court hearing was rescheduled for July 12,” the lawyer said. 

U Khin Maung Htay said nine prosecution witnesses, including the plaintiff, are to be examined in connection with the Peaceful Assembly Law case. So far, five of those witnesses have been examined, he added. 

The accused are U Kyaw Kyaw Lin, joint secretary of the ALD Central Committee, Ko Hlaing Min Tun aka Thar Gyi, and Ko Zar Nay Htoo, all three residents of Taungup. 

In addition to the Peaceful Assembly Law case against them, the trio was previously facing a more serious incitement charge under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code. 

However, that charge was dismissed as part of a broader amnesty granted by Myanmar’s military regime on June 30, and the three men were released. 

U Kyaw Kyaw Lin told DMG last week that the Peaceful Assembly Law case against the three men would not result in more prison time, regardless of the verdict.  

“It has been over four months that we have been detained. The Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law only carries a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment if found guilty. We’ve already [exceeded that] sentence,” he explained.  

The defendants were arrested on February 28 for their involvement in an anti-coup protest in the town of Taungup.   

The three were charged by the Deputy Township Administrator of Taungup Township, U Maung Htee Khaing, under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, and by the Taungup Township Deputy Police Chief Police Captain Zaw Latt under the Peaceful Assembly Law.