Burmese Language
Rangoon bomb suspect denied legal aid
The engineer who was arrested on suspicion of plotting a series of bomb blasts in Rangoon in April has been denied legal representation, his lawyer said.
Kyaw Ho, the lawyer of Phyo Wei Aung, said that his client should, under domestic law, be released having been held for a month without charge.
Phyo Wei Aung is accused of being behind three separate attacks on the X20 pavilion in Rangoon on 15 April, as revellers celebrated the annual water festival. Nine people were killed and dozens injured. He was arrested by police on 23 April.
His lawyer said that he returned to court on 20 May to again request permission to represent Phyo Wei Aung, but was told that “it has not yet been approved”. It is the third time he has requested permission.
“So according to the law, if they cannot press [charges] on 23 May, then he has to be released. That’s what we have to wait for and see. Maybe that’s why they are not granting [legal representation].”
Phyo Wei Aung is accused by the government of being a member of the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors, stormed the Burmese embassy in Bangkok in 1999 and took 38 hostages.
Police said that three grenades had been thrown into the crowds during the water festival. Another device, made with a beer can filled with explosive powder and attached by detonation wire to a mobile telephone, failed to explode.
A Rangoon-based graphic designer and his son were arrested after taking photos of the aftermath of the bombing, and are still being held.
Yee Yee Tint, the mother Sithu Zeya, said that her son had been tortured and denied food during his detention. He and his father have been charged under the Unlawful Associations Act.
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Yes there are so called laws in Burma which were made by an illegal Government. The laws are used on the people; Thitsaphout Than Shwe never meant the false laws to be ever used on the illegal Government. Thitsaphout and his Hench men only use these bogus laws to imprison torture rape and commit slavery. I wonder what laws Thitsaphout uses to burn down villages and to dispose of bodies dead or living at a crematorium, and I wonder what laws he uses to invade another country and his so called brave soldiers murder men women and children.
For God’s sake, wake up people!!!! Stop the wrong strategies in defeating your junta groups. Killing or bombing civillian is never the answer ‘never’ but junta groups is. What about excuting the higher officials in Naypyidaw..huhh instead your own brohters and sisters? Steady politic is toward stable nation;however, corrupt politicians can corrupt a country. Valueable politicians give their lives for his or her interests. Welcome any discussions!
It is sad that such is the case for crime-makers of any sort in Burma, and a double-whammy that innocent bystanders were arrested for taking photos.
@Dal Didn’t see your comment before, but I pretty much agree.
Whenever there was a bomb explosion, the government always had someone to blame. As a matter of fact, no one in Burma has neither motive nor capacity to detonate lethal explosives in the crowd in the middle of Thingyan festival.