More than 1,000 Kachin ethnic people staged a protest march in Myitkyina, Kachin State on December 11, calling for the immediate release of three Kachin activists who were sentenced to six months in prison with a fine of Ks 500,000 under Section 500 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The protestors gathered at the Manaw ground and marched while calling for the immediate release of U Lwan Zaung, U Zaw Jet and Daw Nan Pu who were unfairly arrested for helping free stranded victims, the rapid implementation of an independent and fair judiciary pillar and taking action against those involved in the human right violations.

They marched from the ground to the Kachin State court, holding placards reading “Failed Law”.

Dr. Kha Lan San Swan, the former general secretary of the KBC said: “Our protest aims for the truth. We cannot find the truth in Myanmar. There is no any reason to penalize three youths with the six-month sentence and a fine of Ks 500,000. It shows who has taken control of the law.”

On May 8, Lt-Col Myo Min Oo from the Northern Command filed a case against three activists in accordance with Section 500 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. On December 7, they were sentenced to six months in prison with a fine of Ks-500,000 by Myitkyina Township Court. According to the court’s ruling, they will face an additional six-month imprisonment if they are unable to pay Ks-500,000 in fine. Kachin youths demonstrated against the verdict on that day.

The police also filed a case against three youths involved in the demonstration, under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law.