Fourteen “88 Generation” activists in Burma have been given jail sentences of up to 65 years over their role in anti-government rallies last year.
Another 20 leaders from the group are still being tried on numerous charges which could result in sentences of up to 150 years each.
The military authorities have arrested hundreds of dissidents this year.
Since July they have been put dozens on trial under tightly restricted conditions.
Severe
No-one is under any illusions over how harshly Burma’s military government is willing to treat its opponents.
Even so, the sentences handed down on 14 activists on Tuesday are breathtakingly severe.
They were convicted of four counts of illegally using electronic media and given 15 years on each charge, plus five years for forming an illegal organisation – 65 years in total.
The defendants include Nilar Thein and her husband Ko Jimmy.
He was arrested along with other 88 Generation leaders after the first small protests against a dramatic fuel price rise in August last year, but Nilar Thein went into hiding – leaving their infant daughter with her parents – and was only caught two months ago.
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– Just so no one forgets: Â The junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy uprising, killing as many as 3,000 people. It organised multiparty elections in 1990 but refused to honour the results after Suu Kyi’s party won overwhelmingly.
