Nyi Nyi Tun was arrested on suspicion of having connections with a series of bomb blasts that rocked Rangoon in October 2009.
(Mizzima/IFEX) – On 13 October 2010, a special tribunal in Insein Prison sentenced “Kandarawaddy” news journal editor Nyi Nyi Tun to a prison term of 13 years.
The Seikkan Township court, sitting inside Insein Prison, found Nyi Nyi Tun guilty of violating section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, section 13(1) of the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act, section 505(b) of the Penal Code and section 6(1) of the Wireless Act.
After being sentenced, Nyi Nyi Tun told family members that he was tortured during interrogation. He also handed them a piece of paper reading, “Comrades! The junta gave me a 13-year prison term for serving as a matchmaker between people and politics,” according to his lawyer Kyaw Hoe.
“They were given maximum sentences. There were no eyewitnesses in these cases. They could not prove the cases with sound evidence,” his lawyer told Mizzima.
Police officers from the Rangoon Division Police Chief Office arrested Nyi Nyi Tun in Thingangyun Township of Rangoon Division upon suspicion of having connections with a series of bomb blasts that rocked Rangoon in October 2009.
“Instead of encouraging media development, they obstructed media, which is the eyes and ears of the country. So, our media association condemns these matters,” said Zin Lin, vice-chairman of the exile-based Burma Media Association (BMA).
Nyi Nyi Tun had been working as editor-in-chief of the “Kandarawaddy” news journal, which has been operating in the Kayah special region since 2007. Following his arrest, the journal was closed.
The Thai-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) website lists nearly 2,200 political prisoners in various prisons across Burma.
