Union Supreme Court turned down the special appeal submitted for former Arakan National Party (ANP) Chair and Lower House MP  Dr. Aye Maung from Ann Township Constituency and writer Wai Hin Aung, who were sentenced to 20 years in prison for high treason, on January 24.

Lawyer Aung Kyaw Sein representing the duo said: “The judge did not read out the reason why the supreme court rejected the special appeal. I can give comment only after reading the order. It will take about one week to get the judgment order. According to the legal means, this is the final appeal.”

Rakhine State MP Tin Maung Win from Yathedaung Township, son of Dr. Aye Maung said: “The incumbent government is said to be a dictatorship due to the prosecutions under the sections like high reason and heavy sentences for the literati talks. How can an MP do check and balance entrusted under the constitution if he has no right to give such talk? It is the duty of the politicians to criticize the government. The MPs are elected by the public. Opening the case against such people under Section 505 and 122, is a worrying condition.”

The duo were charged with Section 122 and Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, and Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act after giving speeches at a literature talk to mark the 122nd anniversary of the fall of the Rakhine kingdom held at Yathedaung  Township on January 15, in 2018. They are freed from the indictment under Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act.

Sittwe district court sentenced Dr Aye Maung and Wai Hin Aung to 20 years for high treason under Section 122 of the Penal Code and two years for incitement under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code concurrently on March 19, 2019.