One death penalty prisoner was released for unclear reason

DVB ( 19 December 2003 )

One of the nine people, who were sentenced to death recently was released by the Burmese military junta, the SPDC for no clear reason.

Than Tun was among the 12 people who were arrested for ‘plotting to assassinate state leaders’. Nine of them including the editor of a sports journal ‘First Eleven’were tried secretly and sentenced to death.

But the local people of Pegu in central Burma are mystified by why he was released and a lawyer friend of his U Mya Hla believes that he was arrested by mistake.

U Mya Hla said that Than Tun avoided everyone after his release and joined a Buddhist monastery to become a monk.

Among who were secretly tried and sentenced to death are Ko Zaw Thet Htway, U Aye Myint, Naing Minn and Naing Yekkha (a) Shwe Mahn from New Mon State Party, a student Zar naing Tun (a) Phyu lay and Zaw Htet (a) Ko Myo Htway.

International human rights organisations are demanding the SPDC to provide evidence of their ‘crime’, and not many people in Burma believe that they are guilty of the crime.