Applicant Naw Ohn Hla told Mizzima that the argument given for a proposed revision of conviction on her and two co-accused Karen youths for celebrating the Karen Martyr’s Day ceremony was dismissed by the Yangon Western District Court.

“We gave our argument today and the court dismissed our revision case. We will continue our revision appeal to the Yangon High Court,” she said.

Yangon Region, Kyauktada Township Court sentenced Naw Ohn Hla and two Karen youth to 15-day imprisonment under section 20 of Peaceful Demonstration and Marching in Procession Law for holding an event to mark Karen Martyr’s Day without permission given by the authority concerned.

For this matter and this case, the complaint letter dated October 17 was reportedly sent to the President, State Counsellor, Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, US embassy and UN.

“Losing our ethnic rights is the main issue in this case. And we suffered grievances though there are fundamental rights of the citizens. So we sent the complaint letter as this should not be the case,” Naw Ohn Hla said.

Gen. Saw Mutu Say Poe of the Karen National Union (KNU) held a ceremony at its headquarters on October 4 in honour of Naw Ohn Hla and two Karen youths for leading the organizing of this 69th Karen Martyr’s Day ceremony in Yangon.

Naw Ohn Hla is also the Chairwoman of the Karen Women Union (KWU) which is under the auspices of the KNU.