The trial of eight residents of Hopong Township in southern Shan State will end soon after being detained by the Tatmadaw since mid-July last year.
Their defense lawyer Sao Myawaddy told Shan Herald Agency for News that the Hopong Township Court will make the final ruling on February 21.
“We have arrived at the final ruling stage now. The ruling will be made on the 21st (February 21). There are eight defendants and one minor case. Among 12 charges, [the judge] is ready to set down the ruling for eight charges. Appeals can be made for the rest [of the charges]. The final ruling will be made at the Hopong Township Court. It will be good if they would become released. If not, we will have to appeal to the district [court],” said Sao Myawaddy.
Twelve charges have been made against the eight residents including an alleged possession of weapons as well as for trespassing on a military operations area. They face additional charges under the import and export law, and the telecommunication law.
They have attended less than ten court hearings without the court setting down any rulings.
The eight residents of Nam Hkoke Village were arrested by the Tatmadaw’s 225th and 249th Infantry Battalions (IB-225 and IB-249) on July 17, 2017 for not giving information about the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South (RCSS/SSA-S).
After the RCSS/SSA-S signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) with the government and the Tatmadaw, the Naypyidaw government has removed it from the list of unlawful associations in October, 2015.
