Six Labor Activists in Burma Jailed for Up to 28 Years

Six labor activists were given jail sentences of up to 28 years by a court in Burma for organizing a seminar at a US Embassy center earlier this year, a defense lawyer said Saturday.




The six—all in their 20s—had planned to discuss labor rights at the US Embassy's American Center in the country's biggest city, Rangoon, but it was canceled after a few participants were arrested.

Thurein Aung, Wai Lin, Myo Min and Kyaw Win were sentenced to 28 years in prison. Nyi Nyi Zaw and Kyaw Kyaw were given 20 years in jail.

Aye Aye Cho, the mother of Nyi Nyi Zaw, said her son was "unfairly and unlawfully" sentenced.
"The court did not find any incriminating document or evidence against them," Aye Aye Cho said. "They had not done anything to cause disrespect toward the government. What has been done is a violation of their human rights."

The arrests were unrelated to ongoing demonstrations in Burma over increased fuel and consumer good prices.

Burma's military government has repeatedly criticized the US and British embassies for offering classes to members of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party and other activists.

In April, a newspaper accused the American Center of harming "young Burma brains" and spreading American propaganda through a course called "English for Journalism," which teaches writing and journalistic ethics.

The center, operated by the US Embassy in Burma, offers educational courses, a library, films and other facilities that are open to all Burma citizens.

The US and Britain have imposed political and economic sanctions on the junta because of its poor human rights record and failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government.

In May, a US diplomat accused Burma of harassment after government-run media denounced the American and British embassies for providing free courses, including English lessons, to the country's pro-democracy opposition.

The New Light of Myanmar and other state-run newspapers said waiving lesson fees for members of the NLD was "illegal" and blatant interference in the country's internal affairs.
A spokesman for the US Embassy could not be reached for immediate comment