Karen Martyr Day organizers Naw Ohn Hla and two Karen youths were sentenced to 15 days by the Kyauktada Township Court in Yangon Division on October 2nd. Naw Ohn Hla, Saw Elbert Cho, and Sa Thein Zaw Min were all charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (20) by the Kyauktada Police Chief for organizing the 69th Karen Martyr Day held in front of Yangon City Hall and Maha Bandula Park on August 12th of this year.
Naw Ohn Hla told media that she and the two Karen youths, Saw Elbert Cho, and Sa Thein Zaw Min, who helped organize the event, all find the court’s verdict unacceptable and will appeal the sentence.
“We were sentenced to 15 days, and it is totally not fair. Our rights [as citizens], as well as [our] human rights, [are being] violated. We did not do anything unlawful, but we have been convicted.” Naw Ohn Hla told media after the court ruling and added that they had all been detained since their arrest for a total of 22 days – 7 days beyond the sentencing penalty.
Ethnic organizations, youth leaders, the Student and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCP) and leaders of Karen [political] parties gathered and marched from Maha Bandula Park to Kyauktada Township Court in support of the Karen Martyr Day Organizers.
“The law does not require any negotiations. Lawful action needs to get solved through the law manner. We have organized [the event] legally, but we were sentenced. It does not matter that we were put in jail. However, I feel sorry that our Karen Martyr Day got insulted. The Chief Minister of Yangon Division is the most responsible person regarding this issue,” said Naw Ohn Hla.
Naw Ohn Hla giving an interview to journalists (photo: Karen Media)
The Yangon Division Chief Minister did not provide a permit to organize the Karen Martyr Day event, but Naw Ohn Hla argues there is no reason for the Chief Minister to rule in this way on an important date for an ethnic community.
She believes that the Yangon region government is completely responsible for the current issue, and the government must be held accountable. As long as the government is not aware of the interests of the public and ethnic people, this country [Myanmar] is still far away from democracy and peace, claimed Naw Ohn Hla.
Phado Mahn Nyein Maung, a Karen National Union (KNU) Central Committee member added, “If Naw Ohn Hla and two Karen youths were found guilty, it would make me feel like our Karen people’s hearts are stung by a poisonous thorn. Both the Karen National Union, the people and organizations who are also striving for implementing [of] the peace process, would like to ask the government to avoid doing the thing that could affect the peace process and stimulate distrust amongst each other.”
