Myanmar court sentences activists to 37 years over election protest

Nine activists face prison terms of up to 37 years for protesting the military-backed December elections.Myanmar courts have sentenced nine activists to up to 37 years in prison for participating in a protest that urged the public to boycott last December’s elections.Eight protesters against the military government, including prominent activist Htet Myat Aung, were sentenced to 37 years on Tuesday by two courts in Mandalay, an activist group said on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Myanmar’s coup leader elected president by pro-military parliamentlist 2 of 3What’s happening in Myanmar’s civil war as military stages elections?list 3 of 3ASEAN does not recognise Myanmar’s elections ‘as of now’: Philippine FMend of listThe sentences were imposed following the demonstrators’ convictions under the electoral law and counterterrorism law, according to May Hnin, a spokesperson for the Mandalay" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="174278" data-entity-type="organization">Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee-Mandalay.A ninth activist was sentenced to 27 years after being convicted under the counterterrorism law, she added.The activists were arrested on December 4, a day after they staged a flash protest in downtown Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city.The demonstrators were urging the public to boycott the elections set for between December 25, 2025, and January 25, 2026, and to reject mandatory conscription.They also called for the release of political prisoners detained after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.May Hnin said she believed the military imprisoned the activists for peacefully protesting to instill fear among the public and secure its hold on power.“These sentences are proof that a government that came to power through a sham election can never establish a federal democratic system,” she said.The activists will not appeal the verdicts because they do not believe the sentences will be overturned, May Hnin said.