A pediatrician in the Kayin state capital Hpa-an has been charged with incitement under section 505a of the penal code for refusing to treat the child of a police officer.
The child was taken to the clinic of Dr. Ohn Ohn Yee earlier this month, but the doctor refused to provide treatment on the grounds that police and soldiers have killed dozens of children since the military seized power on February 1.
The police officer then proceeded to file a case against her at the Hpa-an police station, a doctor close to Dr. Ohn Ohn Yee told Myanmar Now.
Dr. Ohn Ohn Yee had posted a sign outside her clinic saying she would not receive patients from the families of regime forces responsible for the murder of children.
“The junta’s forces have been killing innocent protesters, so she said she didn’t want to treat the children of police and soldiers,” said the doctor, who managed to speak to the pediatrician about the case against her.
“This is her right, but they arrested her for it. I feel bad for her,” the doctor added.
The 57-year-old pediatrician, who had retired from active practice for health reasons but opened a small evening clinic in Hpa-an’s Kyar Inn ward to serve local residents, was summoned to the city’s police station on April 5.
However, she refused to turn herself in, as she did not believe that she had broken any law. Three days later, when she went to her clinic to open at around 4pm, she was arrested by eight officers who were waiting there for her.
She was charged the next day with violating section 505a of the penal code, which carries a prison sentence of up to three years for causing fear, spreading fake news or agitating against government employees. She is currently being held at Taung Kalay prison in Hpa-an.
According to the doctor who spoke to her, she suffers from diabetes and a heart condition, and has applied to be released on bail pending her trial.
“She says she’ll face what she has to, that she takes responsibility for her actions. She also said not to worry about her,” the doctor said.
A hearing is scheduled for April 22.
A lawyer who is helping Dr. Ohn Ohn Yee said that no information was available about the plaintiff because the case file has not yet been presented.
Myanmar’s junta has murdered more than 700 people since it ousted the country’s elected government, including at least 43 children.
