Chiang Mai – The seven protesters who staged a demonstration against the fuel price hike were brought under new charges today by the military regime.

The Rangoon West District court dropped the previous charge under section 124(a) of the Criminal Code (disaffection towards the State) and replaced it with new charges under sections 505(b) (inducing crime against public tranquility) against student leader Sithu Maung and six others. The court heard the case inside the Insein prison precincts.

Sithu Maung, Kyi Phyu Maung (North Dagon Township), Zin Lin Aung, Myo Thant a.k.a. John Norton from Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Network (HRDP), Ye Min Oo, Ye Myat Hein and Thein Swe (Pyapon Township) from the National League for Democracy (NLD) were charged yesterday under sections 505 (b) inducing crime against public tranquility, 143, 145, 147 and 295 (a) of the Criminal Code.

"We argued in court that they should not be charged under section 124 (a). The court agreed and dropped the charge. Now they will be charged under new sections including 505(b) of the Criminal Code," advocate Khin Maung Shein said.

It is learnt that some political cases were heard yesterday in which a student from Bogale town Pyee Phyo Hlaing and seven others were charged under section 13(1) of the Immigration Act, section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, section 505(b) of the Criminal Code, section 17/20 of the Printers and Publishers Act by the Rangoon East District Court. The next hearing was fixed on August 26.

Blogger Nay Phone Lat appeared before the Rangoon West District Court for the third time and he is being charged under section 32(b) of the Video Act, sections 33(a) / 38 of the Electronic Act and section 505(b) of the Criminal Code.

"We could not listen to the court proceedings freely. We were allowed to enter the court room only after producing our ID and family registration document. We asked the authorities that if the trial is open why don't you allow other people to come in.  We were threatened by the authorities who said we will not be allowed to meet the accused the next time. We hardly talked with our people. We were asked many questions and harassed," Aye Aye Than, mother of blogger Nay Phone Latt, said Nay Phone Latt's next hearing is on August 19.

The defence lawyers were not allowed to meet their clients in advance and the authorities imposed many restrictions against them.

"We did not get a chance to meet our clients before the trail and could not study the case in advance. We had to defend only after hearing the charge sheet made by prosecutor at the court. We could study our case from the court proceedings only after a few hearings," advocate Khin Maung Shein said.