A court in Rangoon's notorious Insein prison on November 10 meted out a combined prison term of 20 years to popular blogger Nay Phone Latt. On the other hand, poet Saw Wei was meted out a two-year term for "inducing crime against public tranquillity".
The blogger's mother, Aye Aye Than, told Mizzima that her son, who had been arrested on January 29, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for violation of section 505(b) of the Penal Code (Crime Against Public Tranquility); three and a half years under
section 32(b)/36 of the Video Law and 15 years under section 33(a)/38 of the Electronic Law.
"After the court session, the judge and prosecutor informed us regarding the judgement," she said.
Nay Phone Latt, 28, is also a youth member of Burma's main opposition party, National League for Democracy. He runs internet cafés in several townships in Rangoon, including "The Explorer" in Pabedan Township, and "Heaven" in Thingangyun Township.
His mother said that she had no idea why her son was meted out such a long prison term.
"He is the first ever blogger to be arrested in Burma. I have no idea why they punished my son with such a harsh judgement. Perhaps authorities see blogging as a very serious crime," his mother said.
Meanwhile, Nay Phone Latt's defense counsel, Aung Thein, was also sentenced to a four-month prison term in absentia on November 7 for contempt of court.
Saw Wei was arrested in February after his poem entitled "February 14" was published in the Weekly "Ah Chit" ("Love") Journal. The first letters of each line of his Burmese-language poem, once put together, spells out: "Power Crazy Snr. Gen.Than Shwe". As a
result, the authorities had him arrested immediately.
"I am worried about his health," Saw Wei's wife said. "I want to arrange proper medical treatment outside the prison for him, where X-ray facility would be available in order to diagnose his back and waist pain. Currently, he cannot get these treatments inside the
prison."
"He has to cover his body with a towel all the time. This morning at the court, he could not sit for a long time and had to stand up frequently to ease his pain when speaking," Saw Wei's wife told Mizzima.
Soe Maung, Saw Wei's defense counsel, said that he will file an appeal.
