A legal team from Burma’s main National League for Democacy party is planning an appeal against heavy jail sentences handed down to political leaders from Shan State. The appeal will be made at the military-run Supreme Court in Rangoon, it was announced on Wednesday

Eight Shan leaders charged with high treason were handed down lengthy sentences at a Rangoon court in November 2005. One later died, reportedly of epilepsy, in Thandwe prison, Arakan State. “We will plead an appeal for them at the Supreme Court, asking the court if it will accept the case on May 31,” Aung Thein, an NLD lawyer in the team, told The Irrawaddy.

“The verdicts do not conform to existing laws,” he added. “The sentences were the highest, and will even cover the span of their lives.”

Those sentenced included Hkun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, Sai Nyut Lwin, SNLD general secretary and Maj-Gen Sao Hso Ten, president of the Shan State Peace Council. Sao Hso Ten was sentenced to 106 years, Hkun Htun Oo to 92 years and Sai Nyut Lwin to 75 years.

The Shan leaders are serving their sentences in separate prisons. None has any serious health problem, according to Aung Thein.

Asked what the legal team would do if the court did not accept the appeal, Aung Thein said another one would be drawn up. This would have to be the last appeal attempt under Burmese law.

A report in the state-run New Light of Myanmar on May 8 claimed 10 SNLD members had resigned after the case “due to the party’s misdeeds.” The paper added that the SNLD’s “activities have connections with insurgents, and are aimed at causing regional instability and bad blood among the nationalities.”

The SNLD claims members are being forced to resign by the military regime.