Leading Burmese Dissident Jailed For 65 Years

Leading Burmese Dissident Jailed For 65 Years

Press Release: Terry Evans

17 November

One of Burma's most outspoken opponents of the ruling military junta, Min Ko Naing, was sentenced to a 65-year prison term last week.

The former student leader and eight of his 88 Generation student group were sentenced to 65 years each in a closed door trial in Maupin Prison on 11 November.

The nine activists were arrested in August 2007 for instigating protests against massive fuel hikes. Following their arrests, Buddhist monks took up the cause and led the biggest anti-junta demonstrations in nearly two decades.

Last week another fourteen members of the 88 Generation group received similar long prison terms. Burma's ruling generals seem intent on weakening opposition forces before the scheduled general election in 2010.

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