Lawyer for two youths from Pegu in Lower Burma, Aung Than and Zeya Aung who were imprisoned for writing and distributing a political poem, is still unable to lodge appeals on their behalf because the authorities are still refusing to transfer ‘power’ letter to him.

Pegu Division National League for Democracy (NLD) lawyer Mya Hla told DVB that 60 days were given for the appeals to be lodged from the time the sentences were passed but he now had only until 7 August to lodge the appeals due to the delaying tactic of prison authorities at Insein Jail.

Four youths from Pegu including Aung Than and Zeya Aung were arrested for writing and distributing a poem titled Daung Man (the might of the fighting peacock) and given prison terms up to 19 years on 9 June.

Aung Than was given 19 years, Zeya Aung of King Star teashop received 19 years, Aung Aung Oo of A20 Computing Business got 14 years and a textile printer named Sein Hlaing received 19 years. Only Sein Hlaing has been detained at Pegu Prison and the rest were taken to Rangoon Insein Jail.

Aung Than and Zeya Aung were indicted under the infamous 1950 Emergency Provision Act - 5J and the Printing Act, and for having contacts with ‘illegal’ organisations, and crossing the border illegally, and Aung Aung Oo, under the Printing Act and Sein Hlaing, for printing symbols of a raised clenched fist on shirts.

All the youths except Sein Hlaing were arrested on 29 March and Sein Hlaing was arrested in late May when Aung Than told his interrogators that the T-shirt images were printed at Sein Hlaing’s shop.

All of them were tried behind closed doors inside the local prison, without having access to legal representatives.