Zaw Lin Htut and Su Yee Lin (Supplied)  

The pair were arrested last month on their way to a protest in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township

By Myanmar Now

Two student activists who were arrested in Yangon last month had their first hearing on charges of incitement on Friday, according to a lawyer who is helping with their cases.

Su Yee Lin (also known as Lin Lin) and Zaw Lin Htut (also known as Pho Thar) were on their way to a protest in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township when they were taken into custody by plainclothes military personnel on December 19.

They were both transferred to Insein Prison after their hearing at Thingangyun’s township courthouse on Friday, said the lawyer, who is not formally representing the pair.

“They were sent to Insein Prison last night. They were initially sent back to Thingangyun police station from the interrogation center. Lin Lin is currently facing three charges and Pho Thar is facing only one—incitement—but I heard another will be added later,” said the lawyer.

A source close to Zaw Lin Htut’s family said that both he and Su Yee Lin appeared to be in good health at the hearing.

“They just said to be careful, and to carry on the revolution without them,” the source said.

Su Yee Lin is the chair of the Eastern Yangon University Students Union and Zaw Lin Htut is a freelance reporter and former member of the University Students’ Union Alumni Force.

Zaw Lin Htut previously served a two-year sentence for taking part in a performance of thangyat, a traditional form of political satire popular in Myanmar, that was deemed insulting to the military. He was released in June 2020.

Both defendants are expected to have their next hearing on January 20 at the Insein Prison court. It will be decided at that time if they will be allowed to have legal representation, said the lawyer, who spoke to Myanmar Now on condition of anonymity.

As of January 14, there were at least 8,603 people still in detention for opposing last year’s military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Original Post: Myanmar Now