YANGON — The first court hearing for three detained journalists will be on July 21, according to Hsipaw Township police major Myint Win.
Six men including three reporters detained by the Myanmar Army on June 26 were brought to the court in Hsipaw on Friday morning. The case has now been transferred to Shan State’s Namhsan Township, where they were arrested.
“Though the case has been handed to Namhsan Township court, the hearing was held at Hsipaw Township court because they are still in Hsipaw,” the police major told The Irrawaddy.
“They appeared at the court today to get the court’s permission for their trial on July 21,” said a source at Hsipaw court.
They were charged by Hsipaw Township police under Article 17(1) of the colonial-era Unlawful Association Act and held in prison on remand for 11 days before the court hearing on Friday.
The three journalists are The Irrawaddy’s Lawi Weng, also known as U Thein Zaw, as well as U Aye Nai and U Pyae Bone Naing from Democratic Voice of Burma.
They were arrested by the Myanmar Army in an area controlled by Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) after covering the TNLA’s event to destroy drugs to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26.
