Nota de Prensa , 16 de Mayo 2009, Mae Sot- Tailandia
Asociación de Presos Politicos Birmanos
La Junta revoca la licencia para ejercer al abogado de Daw Aung San Suu Kyi en el juicio del lunes
[Mae Sot, Thailand] La Asociación de Asistencia a los Presos Politicos birmanos ha sabido que el abogado U Aung Thein quien tiene la licencia legal para ejercer, le ha sido revocada por las autoridades, alegando que no tiene la " habilidad etica profesional ".
U Aung Thein es uno de los abogados de Aung San Suu Kyi de la Liga Nacional por la Democracia. Junto a Kyi Win y U Nyan Win, ambos miembros y parte del equipo legal de la NLD estaban actualmente preparando la defensa de Daw Aung San Suu Kyi de Khin Khin Win y Win Ma Ma.
La revocación de la licencia para la practica de la abogacia en el proximo juicio que celebrara el lunes es practicamente un atentado flagrante y ocasionara un daño terrible a la defensa de Daw Aung San Suu Kyi y a sus dos compañeras. . U Aung Thein esta fuertemente asociado U Khin Maung Shein - quien no estaba directamente al cargo del caso de Daw Aung San Suu Kyi- Hay actualmente 11 abogados en prisión.
Background
During the trials in October and November last year, lawyers U Aung Thein and U Khin Maung Shein were defending leading members of the 88 Generation Students group, as well as other high-profile activists like labour activist Su Su Nway, Cyclone Nargis relief volunteer Zarganar and monks' leader U Gambira. In agreement with their clients, they withdrew their legal representation in protest at the grossly unfair way in which the courts were handling the proceedings. On 7 November 2008 they were sentenced to four months' each under Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Act. The charges were announced on 30 October 2008. The lawyers appeared in court on 6 November, but were not in court to hear the sentence handed down to them on 7 November.
Speaking from his home to the Democratic Voice of Burma whilst waiting for the authorities to take him to jail on 7 November 2008, U Aung Thein said, "Our clients verbally notified Hlaing township judge that they have no faith in the court proceeding and do not want to be tried anymore. He [the judge] insisted that the defendants must not communicate with him directly but through their lawyers. So we just said to him what our clients asked and withdrew our representation. If we are held responsible for this, we have to stick our heads out. I have no plan to counter argue or appeal against the sentence. This kind of thing will continue to happen now and in the future. Most lawyers make a living by conventional means but new lawyers will emerge to defend political activists.... There will always be defenders of the truth. If I don't do it, other people who do will emerge."
Both U Aung Thein and U Khin Maung Shein were released on 6 March 2009 after completing their sentences. Since then, they had resumed their legal duties.
