The Yangon Regional Trial Court sentenced Naw Ohn Hla, chair of the Karen Women’s Union, and two other activists for violating the country’s peaceful assembly and peaceful procession law.





The case stemmed from their decision to name the event Karen Martyrs Day event.

“The court’s decision was deeply offensive to us,” said Naw Ohn Hla, who added that they will appeal the verdict.

The August event was held to mark the anniversary of the slaying of Karen National Union (KNU) founder Saw Ba U Gyi and Major General Sai Kay by the military on August 12, 1950.

The event had been celebrated in Yangon since 2014 without any problem until last year, when local authorities banned the use of the word “martyr,” according to the event organising committee.

“The government is stupid. If they cannot understand ethnic groups, how can they work on the peace process?” said Pado Mahn Nyein Maung, a member of KNU’s central committee.

The KNU, which is one of 10 ethnic armed groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), suspended its participation in the peace process last November due to its frustration over the slow pace of the negotiations.





The court released the three activists after the sentencing because they had already served the full sentence while the case was being heard.