Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON873
2008-11-10 10:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: OPPOSITION LAWYERS JAILED
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000873
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: OPPOSITION LAWYERS JAILED
REF: A. RANGOON 860
B. RANGOON 865
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000873
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: OPPOSITION LAWYERS JAILED
REF: A. RANGOON 860
B. RANGOON 865
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Opposition lawyer U Aung Thein's wife confirmed that
on November 7 her husband and fellow lawyer U Khin Maung
Shein were sentenced by a Supreme Court deputy justice to
four months in prison for contempt of court after they
criticized the lack of due process in their client's trials
(Ref A). The two men began serving their sentence at Insein
prison on November 8.
2. (C) An associate in U Aung Thein's law office explained
that the case was referred to the Supreme Court by the
lower-court judge who had originally charged the men with
contempt (Ref A). The case was decided by a Supreme Court
justice because both lawyers are admitted before the Supreme
Court. U Aung Thein's associate noted that because the
sentence was handed down by a Supreme Court justice, the two
lawyers have no avenue of appeal. He added that normally
most lawyers charged with contempt are only fined, and
commented that prison time is extremely rare.
3. (C) U Aung Thein's and U Khin Maung Shein's sentencing
brings to three the number of lawyers the regime has jailed
for contempt of court in the past three weeks. A fourth, Saw
Kyaw Kyaw Min, remains in hiding after a court issued an
arrest warrant for him on the same charge (reftels).
DINGER
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: OPPOSITION LAWYERS JAILED
REF: A. RANGOON 860
B. RANGOON 865
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Opposition lawyer U Aung Thein's wife confirmed that
on November 7 her husband and fellow lawyer U Khin Maung
Shein were sentenced by a Supreme Court deputy justice to
four months in prison for contempt of court after they
criticized the lack of due process in their client's trials
(Ref A). The two men began serving their sentence at Insein
prison on November 8.
2. (C) An associate in U Aung Thein's law office explained
that the case was referred to the Supreme Court by the
lower-court judge who had originally charged the men with
contempt (Ref A). The case was decided by a Supreme Court
justice because both lawyers are admitted before the Supreme
Court. U Aung Thein's associate noted that because the
sentence was handed down by a Supreme Court justice, the two
lawyers have no avenue of appeal. He added that normally
most lawyers charged with contempt are only fined, and
commented that prison time is extremely rare.
3. (C) U Aung Thein's and U Khin Maung Shein's sentencing
brings to three the number of lawyers the regime has jailed
for contempt of court in the past three weeks. A fourth, Saw
Kyaw Kyaw Min, remains in hiding after a court issued an
arrest warrant for him on the same charge (reftels).
DINGER