Case History: Tin Htut Paing
On 15 May 2015, the Dagon Township Court in Rangoon sentenced human rights defenders Ms Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Ms Daw Sein Htwe, Ms Daw San San Win (also known as “Lay Lay”) and Messrs Ko Nay Myo Zin, Ko Tin Htut Paing and Ko Thant Zin to four years and four months' imprisonment.
Tin Htut Paing is a Burmese activist, who protested in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon calling on the Myanmar authorities to carry out an urgent and impartial investigation into the death of Daw Khin Win. She was shot dead on 22 December 2014 while demonstrating against illegal land confiscations and forced evictions over the Letpadaung copper mine in Monywa.
On 15 May 2015, the Dagon Township Court in Rangoon sentenced human rights defenders Ms Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Ms Daw Sein Htwe, Ms Daw San San Win (also known as “Lay Lay”) and Messrs Ko Nay Myo Zin, Ko Tin Htut Paing and Ko Thant Zin to four years and four months' imprisonment.
The six human rights defenders work for the promotion of human rights and environmental rights in particular. They have repeatedly called for the suspension of the Chinese-backed Letpadaung mining project in Burma's Sagaing region. The project is strongly opposed by local communities due its damaging effect on the environment. Naw Ohn Hla is a prominent advocate for land rights and political prisoners, and has been imprisoned on more than seven occasions since 1989, as a result of her peaceful efforts to free political prisoners and assist Buddhist monks during the 2007 uprising.
The charges against the human rights defenders are based on their participation in a peaceful protest at the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon, which took place on 30 December 2014. The protest was attended by more than 100 people, and called on the Myanmar authorities to carry out an investigation into the death of Ms Khin Win, who was shot dead on 22 December 2014 when police opened fire on a group demonstrating against the Letpadaung mining project. Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Daw Sein Htwe, Ko Nay Myo Zin and Ko Tin Htut Paing were arrested at the demonstration.
On 20 January 2015, a new charge was brought against human rights defenders Ms Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Ms Daw Sein Htwe, Ms Daw San San Win (also known as “Lay Lay”) and Messrs Ko Nay Myo Zin, Ko Tin Htut Paing and Ko Thant Zin. They have been charged with various offences, including protesting without permission, and have been in detention since their arrest on 30 December 2014 for participating in a peaceful protest against the shooting and killing of a protester the week before.
The six human rights defenders were informed of the fresh charge when they appeared in the second hearing of the trial against them. The charges relate to their participation in a protest of approximately 100 people in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon on 30 December 2014. They were calling on the Myanmar authorities to carry out an investigation into the death of Ms Khin Win, who was shot dead on 22 December 2014 when police opened fire on a group demonstrating against the Letpadaung mining project. Daw Naw Ohn Hla, Daw Sein Htwe, Ko Nay Myo Zin and Ko Tin Htut Paing were arrested at the demonstration and Daw San San Win and Ko Thant Zin presented themselves to the authorities and were detained on 13 and 20 January 2015, respectively. Ms Daw Mya Nyunt has also been charged, but remains at liberty.
