Brang Shawng's judge warns his lawyer not to share information

BRANG SHAWNG, A KACHIN IDP AND KIO CIVILIAN, WAS DETAINED BY BURMESE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES ON JUNE 17.

Testimony from Brawng Shawng’s trial which has been reportedly leaked to Kachin media has prompted judge U Myint Htoo to order his lawyer Ma Hka to not share information from court proceedings with the public.

Brang Shawng was arrested by Burmese authorities in Jan Mai Kawng Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp under suspicion of being part of a bombing operation and having contact with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on June 17.

After his arrest he had several wounds on his body which many people believe resulted from being tortured while being detained at the police station.

A Kachin blog (the jinghpawkasa.blogspot.com) published photos of Brang Shawng injuries and what appeared to be court testimony of his lawyer Ma Hka cross examining Police Officer Aung Mya Than, on the website on July 11. Aung Mya Than was one of several other officers who arrested Brang Shawng.

Both Aung Mya Than and Military Intelligence Officer Kyaw Zwa Lin, also was involved in the arrest, have denied in court that the accused was beaten while under their arrest.

But according to Brang Shawng’s lawyer Ma Hka, Kyaw Myint Naing (another police officer who recently appeared before the court) said the accused did not have wounds on his body when they arrested him.

This directly contradicts what Kyaw Zwa Lin said in court.

“Kyaw Zwa Lin said (during court testimony) Brang Shawng was already injured when they arrested him,” said Ma Hka.

Kyaw Zwa Lin has denied Brang Shawng was beaten by police officers both times he appeared before court.

The plaintiff claimed Brang Shawng confessed to being a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) sergeant from 2011 until 2012. Before this he participated in a KIA’s drug eradication operation in Sadung area. In 2006 he attended bombing training.

During the next court date on July 26, judge U Myint Htoo will hear testimony from 17 witnesses.