Myanmar student activists, lawyer released in Mandalay

Myanmar student activists, lawyer released in Mandalay



MYINGYAN: -- A court in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Division, on Thursday released two student activists who had been facing trial for their involvement in education reform protests last year, The Irrawaddy reported.

This was part of an ongoing series of political prisoner pardons initiated by the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

Soe Hlaing, a Technological University student from Monywa, and Zin Ko Thant of Mandalay’s Yadanapon University were accused of replacing Myanmar’s national flag with a student union flag at Myingyan Degree College during a protest for education reform in January 2015.

Their release is the latest in a string of amnesties that President Htin Kyaw has signed off on since taking office this month.

Elsewhere in Mandalay Division, lawyer Zaw Win, who has fought for victims of land confiscation, was released from one year and eight months’ detainment from Mandalay’s Oh-bo Prison.

Zaw Win was on trial under the Peaceful Assembly Law, as well as facing charges of incitement and showing disrespect to the court, for staging a protest at the Pyin Oo Lwin District Court.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/160607


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-22