Pabedan Township Court in Yangon has sentenced three journalists and the two owners of the now-closed Bi Mon Te Nay journal to two years in prison October 16 for a story that upset the Myanmar government.
Defence lawyer U Kyaw Win told Mizzima that reporter Kyaw Zaw Hein, editors Win Tin and Thura Aung, and journal owners U Win Tin and U Yin Min Tun were sentenced on 16th October under the Penal Code Article 505(b). They were found guilty of “defamation of the state.”
One of the fathers of the sentenced men told Mizzima he was not satisfied with the verdict and the men will appeal.
The journalists were charged over a story published in the journal in July repeating the claim of an activist group, Movement for Democracy Current Force, which mistakenly said that opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had teamed up with several ethnic politicians to form an interim government.
Shortly after the men were arrested, the journal ceased operations.
U Thiha Saw, a member of the Myanmar Press Council (Interim) said in the media law there is no case or penalty for this kind of case. He said that what should have happened is that the press council should have intervened and negotiated to prevent the case reaching court.
Witnesses in the case were Sithu Aung Myint, a commentary writer, U Zaw Thet Htwe, U Aung Thura, Daw Shwe Hmone and U Thet Wai Ko Ko.
Sithu Aung Myint said the outcome of the case was not fair. The case submitted by Special Branch and the government may have influenced the court decision.
Article 505(b) of the Penal Code states: “Intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.”
