The high treason charges were heard at the Sittwe District Court in the morning and the charges for conducting public mischief and having ties to unlawful associations were heard at the Sittwe Township Court in the evening.

Four prosecution witnesses were questioned at the court yesterday.

According to the lawyers, records were listened to during the court hearing.

Due to requests from the media, Dr Aye Maung was given more time than before to speak to the media when he and Ko Wai Hin Aung were taken to the Sittwe District Court in the morning.

“What I have said [in my speech] is different from their accusation. The words have been changed. U Nyi Pu will feel unhappy if he reads them. I also feel unhappy. All of the accusations are words that have been twisted and taken out of context. I want this to be reconsidered,” Dr. Aye Maung told the media at the court's entrance.

The media made an informal negotiation with the police official, who took security duties at the court, in the morning to allow them to speak with Dr. Aye Maung for a few minutes.

“We have to do this for his security. We are not restricting him from speaking to the media. It’s our duty to provide him with security,” a police official, who did not want to be named, told the media.

The media requested the police official to allow Dr. Aye Maung to speak for at least two minutes since he is a political leader and his dignity should be considered and such allowance would make it easier for the media to cover the news.

Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung have been detained in the Sittwe Prison after being arrested and charged with Section 122 (high treason) and Section 505 (b) (conduct of public mischief) of the Penal Code and Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for delivering speeches during a ceremony marking the 233rd anniversary of the downfall of the Rakhine sovereignty held in Rathedaung on January 15.