2014 prison census - Burma: Lu Maw Naing, Paing Thet Kyaw (Aung Thura), Sithu Soe, Yarzar Oo, Tint San

Lu Maw Naing, Unity
Medium:Print
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:January 31, 2014
Paing Thet Kyaw (Aung Thura), Unity
Medium:Print
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:February 1, 2014
Sithu Soe, Unity
Medium:Print
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:February 1, 2014
Yarzar Oo, Unity
Medium:Print
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:February 1, 2014
Tint San, Unity
Medium:Print
Charge:Anti-State
Imprisoned:February 1, 2014

Naing, Kyaw, Soe, and Oo were detained by police days after their Unity weekly news journal published an exposé on its front page on the alleged production of chemical weapons at a secret military facility in Burma's central Magwe Division. All four journalists, as well as the journal's chief executive, Tint San, were held in pretrial detention.

On July 10, the Pakokku Township Court sentenced all five to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labor under the 1923 Official Secrets Act, which criminalizes acts deemed as prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. The criminal charges of divulging state secrets and trespassing were filed and prosecuted by the government's President's Office.

The January 25, 2014, story quoted villagers as saying that the facility was used for the production of chemical weapons and that technicians who appeared to be Chinese were frequently seen at the 3,000-acre complex. The report claimed that several senior military members, including former junta leader Senior General Than Shwe and current Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing, had visited the secret facility.

On October 2, the Magwe Divisional Court reduced all five of their sentences to seven years on appeal. On November 26, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal for full acquittal by Naing, Kyaw, Soe, and Oo, according to news reports. Their defense lawyer, Robert San Aung, said they would file an "appeal by special leave," their last possible appeal option under Burmese law. The court denied on the same day San's separate appeal for a reduction of his sentence to five years, reports said. All five were being held at Pakkoku Prison in late year. The publication closed down for financial reasons after the arrest of San.

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