New President to Be Able to Carry out National Reconciliation, Says Detained Political Leader Dr. Aye Maung

While former Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U Win Myint was being elected as the president in the parliament today, the Rakhine political leader was taken to court in handcuffs to attend his seventh court hearing.

“The newly elected president will carry out national conciliation within a short period of time. The Panglong Conference will be convened soon for national reconciliation. If possible, I want to attend it when it is convened,” Dr. Aye Maung told the reporters at the entrance of the courthouse.

“I’m happy that U Win Myint became the president,” said Dr. Aye Maung.

He added that he will submit to the Rakhine State Hluttaw to discharge all three cases under Section 561 (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Around 50 people came to show support towards Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung, who are facing three charges, when they attended their seventh court hearing at the Sittwe District Court and Township Court in the Rakhine State.

Although the supporters and security police jostled in the past when Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung were taken to their court hearing, both sides reached an understanding and no jostling and arguments broke out this time.

Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung have been charged with Section 122 (high treason) and Section 505 (b) (conduct of public mischief) of the Penal Code and Section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Associations Act for delivering speeches during a ceremony marking the 233rd anniversary of the fall of the Rakhine sovereignty held in Rathedaung on January 15.

Only one prosecution witness was questioned for all three cases during the court hearing, according to writer Wai Hin Aung’s family.