Rangoon:  Eleven Arakanese youth, etained since 2009 were sentenced Wednesday by the Burmese military authorities inside the notorious Insein prison's court to three to nine years in prison on several charges.

A relative of Ko Mae Lon, who was sentenced to nine years said, "It is unfair and an injustice to imprison the 11 youths. There was no evidence or witnesses to support the accusations but the judge found them guilty and sentenced the youths."

Judge U Myint San in the Western District Court in Insein Prison gave the verdict and sentenced them to terms ranging from three to nine years.

"Ko Ray Htet Soe was sentenced to nine years in prison while Ko Kae Lon was sentenced to eight years. Both were sentenced to longer terms than the other youths," he said.

Ko Ray Htet Soe was sentenced to nine years in total, including three years for having connections with illegal organizations outside Burma, five years for possession of explosives, and one year for illegal possession of a satellite phone.

Ko Mae Lone was sentenced to eight years, including three years for having connections with illegal organizations, and five years for possession of explosives.

"Ko Tun Lin Kyaw, Kyaw Moe, and four other youths were sentenced to six years in prison for immigration offences and having connections with illegal organizations, while another youth was sentenced to three years in prison," the relative said.

Family members of the youths are now preparing to appeal in the upper court.

The youths, all around 25 years of age, were arrested in Rangoon and Arakan State on 4 September, 2009, on multiple accusations, including possession of explosives, connection with outside organizations, and crossing the border illegally.

The 11 youths are Ko Ray Htet Soe, Ko Mae Lon, Ko Tun Lin Kyaw, Ko Khaing Kyaw Moe, Ko Aung Moe Zaw, Ko Aung Naing, Ko Aung Naing Soe, Ko Kyaw San Thein, Ko Zaw Tun Naing, and another unnamed youth. The youths hail from Sittwe, Buthidaung, Ponna Kyunt, and Maungdaw, and some are graduates.