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10-Year Sentence for Newest Political Prisoner in Burma

Nay Myo Zin was sentenced to ten years in prison by aBurmese court last week. Hiswife reported that he was arrested because Burmese secret police had foundan email in his inbox that discussed national reconciliation.

Zin was charged under the Electronic TransitionsAct 33a, which criminalizes “doing any act detrimental to the security ofthe State or prevalence of law and order or community peace and tranquility ornational solidarity or national economy or national culture.” This law isfrequently used to arrestdissidents (pdf).

Nay Myo Zin was the first person to be arrested forpolitical reasons since the new Burmese government took power earlier thisyear. His arrest and sentencing is another a sign that despite its claims to beon the path to democracy, the government has not changed. In addition to NayMyo Zin, there are 1,995 other political prisoners in Burma, according to the Assistance Association for Political PrisonersBurma.

PHR urges the Burmese government to embrace principles of democracyand release all political prisoners.

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