Press Release: Terry Evans
7 November 2008
Lawyers defending Burma's detained political activists face continued intimidation from the country’s unelected military
junta.
According to the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), there are currently 13 lawyers
defending pro-democracy activists in Burmese courts. However, the Burmese regime seems intent on preventing dissidents
from receiving fair trials.
This week a lawyer representing members of the 88 Generation Students group was prevented from attending a court hearing
at Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison. The lawyer was supposed to appear at a hearing to defend 14 members of the 88
Generation Students group, but he was denied permission to enter the courtroom.
A number of other lawyers representing detained pro-democracy activists have faced various forms of obstruction,
including arrest, since October.
ENDS