Long prison sentences for bride, groom and wedding guests

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) raises serious allegations against the Burmese judiciary. On Monday, a court in Shan State sentenced 20 members of the Muslim minority to long prison terms for "terrorism" without solid evidence such as weapons or incriminating documents. The accused – a wedding couple and their 18 guests, including a 15 year old boy – were found guilty merely based on a police report. "This is a case of prejudgment. Burma is falling back to the worst days of its military dictatorship," criticized the STP's Asia-consultant, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Wednesday. "Also, the proceedings did not meet the internationally recognized principles of a fair trial. Buddhist extremists of the '969'-movement had repeatedly threatened the judges, the defendants and their family members, swearing vengeance if the accused should not be sentenced to long prison terms."

14 men and four women were sentenced to 14 years in prison. Another defendant was sentenced to 19 years, the boy to seven years in prison. The defendants were arrested at an army checkpoint when they were on their way to a wedding in the village of Kunhein in August 2014. All the convicts are Muslim citizens of Burma and do not belong to the persecuted Muslim Rohingya minority.

"The intimidations of the '969-activists' are especially frightening because they are targeted at all Muslims – and Burma's authorities are acting as accessories to the crime of excluding other faiths if they don't initiate criminal proceedings against the incitement of the Buddhist extremists at last," said Delius. In Taunggyi, the hometown of the accused, Buddhist extremists are distributing leaflets and CD's and holding public speeches, warning the population not to marry Muslims and to not to shop in their stores.

The STP accuses the Burmese authorities and the judiciary of criminalizing Muslims as suspected "terrorists" instead of seeking reconciliation between Buddhists and Muslims or trying to find a political solution for the Rohingya (who are not recognized as citizens of Burma). This has got nothing to do with the global struggle against terrorism. According to the STP, the tensions between the Buddhists and Muslims in Burma are homemade problems. "If Burma's government does not finally manage to curb Buddhist extremism, the pursued Muslims are likely to become more radical," warned Delius.

Ulrich Delius, head of STP's Asia department, is available for further questions: +49 551 49906 27 or asien@gfbv.de.

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