Women's rights activist Daw Nyo Aye sentenced to 2 years in prison

Daw Nyo Aye, chairperson of the Rakhine Women's Network, who was charged under section 505(b) for attending the Sittwe rice killing day ceremony, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Sittwe township court on 18 March.

She was sentenced to prison at around 11:30 am on Monday claiming that she was found guilty for attending the rice killing day ceremony.

"The court stated that Daw Nyo Aye attended the ceremony. It also disclosed fabricated evidence claiming that the rice killing day vinyl sheet from her office was found. But the vinyl was actually taken from the student union’s office, where the ceremony took place and it was falsely presented as if it came from her office. Based on this fact, she was sentenced,” said a person close to her.

After she was sentenced, her daughter Ma Saw Mya Thandar expressed dissatisfaction saying, "I am not satisfied, but what can I do? The law is in their hands. They can do whatever they want and the people have to  suffer.”

Daw Nyo Aye is otherwise facing  high blood pressure and the fatty liver problem. She needs to purchase medicines regularly. Her daughter expressed worries that even though she is ill, Daw Nyo Aye has been sent to prison. She is now unable to receive medical outside medical treatment.

"She was treated by a prison doctor and bought medicines externally. The  medication costs from Kyats 250,000 to 300,000. It's distressing that my sick mother has been sentenced. I am aware of her suffering even though she looked smiling,” added the daughter.

Her trial, originally set for February, was postponed multiple times before the sentence was pronounced on Monday.

She was arrested by the police on 15 August 2023 from the Rakhine Women's Network office in Sittwe, where she had attended the 56th annual rice killing day commemoration program. The Sittwe student union organised the program on 13 August at their office.

Later the Sittwe number 1 police station officer charged her under section 505(b) and filed a case.

She was sentenced with the pre-trial detention period being eligible for deduction from her two-year sentence.