Myanmar authorities have charged 14 supporters of detained democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for protesting against the extension of her house arrest, police said yesterday.
They were arrested on Suu Kyi’s 63rd birthday on June 19 as they shouted for her release outside the party headquarters of her National League for Democracy (NLD).
“They were charged at the township court on Friday afternoon for causing public unrest that day by shouting slogans,” a police source said.
The NLD said it was working for their release.
“I was told 14 people appeared at Bahan township court yesterday afternoon. We are hoping for the best for them,” party spokesman Nyan Win said.
Last Monday the NLD accused the government of illegal detention.
“The arrest was not in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
On Friday, four NLD members were each sentenced to a year in jail for urging people to vote “No” in a nationwide constitutional referendum, which was held and passed by the ruling junta in May.
The court imposed the jail sentences “for trespassing with intent to commit offense,” Nyan Win said.
The NLD strongly opposed the draft constitution, which it and other critics charged would perpetuate military rule beyond a general election supposed to be held in 2010.
The four were arrested in Tounggok in Rakhine state in Myanmar’s west in March for distributing leaflets urging voters to reject the draft charter, Nyan Win said.
The new constitution was adopted after it won overwhelming approval in a national referendum held in May. Critics said the referendum was conducted in an unfair manner, with opportunities to oppose it restricted and irregularities in voting.
Nyan Win said the four were sentenced on June 27 by a court in Tounggok township, and they were the first people imprisoned for opposing the Constitution.
The Tounggok area is noted for opposition to Myanmar’s ruling generals.
The NLD said another senior party member had also been arrested on Wednesday in Shwe Pyitha township in northern Yangon without reason.
Myanmar has been ruled by the military since 1962.
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