Ko Soe Myint’s case latest

April 2, 2003

The case of Ko Soe Myint, the editor of ‘Mizzima News’ who is being tried by the Indian government is being postponed. In order to highlight the plights of Burmese people, 12 years ago, Ko Soe Myint and a friend hijacked a plane flying from Bangkok and forced it to land at Calcutta. At the time, the Indian government had sympathy with them and now, they are re-opening the case after twelve years.

Today is supposed to be the start of the trial but it is postponed to June by the court in Calcutta because of the absences of some witnesses for the government, said Ko Soe Myint as follows:

Ko Soe Myint : Today is supposed to be start of the trial but the government’s lawyer requested the court to postpone the trial to June because the absences of some witnesses. On our side, we are prepared. I have three/four lawyers and we are ready. I don’t have to pay them a single ‘pya’. They are helping me on their own will. All the lawyers are defending me in support of our cause. There are four lawyers in all. I even don’t know some lawyers. They told me at the court that they will help me. They support democracy in Burma.

He also explained his own attitudes on the case and said that the government’s lawyer himself believes that the case should be withdrawn as follows:

Ko Soe Myint : Whatever it is, the people of India support democracy in Burma. Similarly, I believe that Burmese people want democracy. The government’s lawyer himself supports our cause. He wrote to the government that the case should be withdrawn. He wrote to the government for the second time in January. He supports democracy in Burma. It [hijack] was done to highlight the democratic cause in Burma twelve years ago. It was not done with weapon and it was done without violence. Therefore, the case should be withdrawn in support of the cause and humanitarian reasons and the like. He asked the government in a letter twice but it never responded.