Key facts
- Nine activists in Myanmar have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 27 to 37 years.
- The activists were convicted for protesting and calling for a boycott of the December elections.
- Prominent activist Htet Myat Aung received a 37-year sentence.
- The sentences were handed down by courts in Mandalay.
- The convictions were under the electoral law and counterterrorism law.
- Activists believe the sentences are intended to instill fear and maintain military control.
Courts in Myanmar have sentenced nine activists to lengthy prison terms, with the maximum reaching 37 years, for their involvement in a protest that called for a boycott of the country's December elections. May Hnin, a spokesperson for the Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee-Mandalay, stated that eight individuals, including prominent activist Htet Myat Aung, received 37-year sentences on Tuesday. A ninth activist was sentenced to 27 years.
The activists were arrested after staging a protest on December 3, urging the public to reject the elections, abolish the military conscription law, and secure the release of political prisoners detained since the military seized power in 2021. Htet Myat Aung and the others were convicted under both the electoral law and the counterterrorism law.
May Hnin expressed that the activists would not appeal the verdicts, as they do not expect the sentences to be overturned. She believes the military junta imposed these harsh sentences to intimidate the public and solidify its control. "These sentences are proof that a government that came to power through a sham election can never establish a federal democratic system," May Hnin said.
The military-backed government has not issued public comments regarding the sentences. The election law, enacted in July by the previous military government, allows for penalties up to the death penalty for anyone opposing or disrupting elections. Prior to the December election, over 200 individuals were charged under this law. The election, which excluded major opposition parties, has been widely criticized by opponents and independent observers as neither free nor fair.
The 2021 military coup led to widespread popular opposition, which has since escalated into a civil war. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 31,596 people have been arrested since the takeover, with over 14,000 remaining in detention as of Tuesday.