Chiang Mai - Author and blogger Nay Phone Latt, in custody for six months, was charged again under the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act under section 5(j), a switch from the previous charge under section 32(b) of the Video Act.
"His case has been changed to section 5(j) of Emergency Provisions Act. The Special Branch (SB) of Police informed him about it in prison on July 2, he said. He was previously charged under section 32(b). The hearing is now fixed for July 16. But he also said that he will not be produced before the court on July 16 but will be remanded again," Aye Aye Than, his mother, who met him in prison yesterday told Mizzima.
Under section 32(b) of the Video Act, he is facing a maximum of six months in prison but now faces a maximum of seven years in jail under the new charge under section 5(j) of Emergency Provisions Act, if convicted, the defense lawyer Aung Thein said.
"The authorities and the law enforcement agencies do not respect and abide by the law. They changed the charge according to their wishes. They couldn't produce the accused before the court as they do not have a sound case. They have just changed their charge sheet again and again under different sections of different Acts. He has been in custody for long time," he said.
The authorities arrested blogger Nay Phone Latt on January 29 and remanded him until today without producing him before the court and now they have changed their charge against him.
High court lawyer Aung Thein submitted an application to the authorities on June 16 seeking an interview to get his client's instructions, but has not got it yet.
Aye Aye Than said she had requested the authorities to let him have treatment for his eye disease.
"He is suffering from eye disease and I requested the prison authority to let him have treatment. My son said tears come to his eyes at night and he cannot read books, his sole companion in prison. I worry about his eyesight. He must get proper treatment before it is too late. The doctor can prescribe him medicine and vitamins for his eye disease. The eye is the most delicate part of the human body," his mother said.
Meanwhile another famous human right activist Suu Suu Nwe is suffering from high blood pressure in solitary confinement.
"I couldn't meet her yesterday. I sent a food parcel to her through prison authorities. They said that prison meetings with family members are banned for violation of prison rules and discipline. Her blood pressure was 160-140 mm Hg when I met her last time on June 30, she said. Our family doctor prescribed medicines and we sent them to her through the prison authorities. We do not know whether she's got it," her elder sister Daw Htay Htay Kyi who went yesterday to meet her said.
A heart patient Suu Suu Nwe hit her head against the brick wall after having quarreled with the prison authorities at the end of June. After that, she has been kept in solitary confinement in a prison cell.
"I saw a notice pasted at the prison gate saying she had quarreled with the prison staff many times and made many complaints and argued with them so she was punished with 14 days solitary confinement," lawyer Khin Maung Shein said after visiting the prison on Friday.
Suu Suu Nwe was arrested on 14 November 2007 in front of Myayeiknyo Hotel while she was into a poster campaign. She was then charged under section 143 & 145 (unlawful assembly), section 505(b) (inciting crime against public tranquility) and section 124(a) (committing disaffection towards the State) of the Criminal Code. She will be produced before the court again tomorrow.
