Five women accused of throwing hot water on police as they cracked down on protesters are still detained in Yangon’s Insein Prison, four months after their arrest.
The military council made the statement on March 1, the day of the alleged attack, saying that no one was injured in the incident, which reportedly occurred on Aung Taw Mu St in Sanchaung Township.
The detained women include Ei Ei Aung, Yu Yu Win, Khin Hnin Oo, Sandar Soe and Dahlia Maung. They are charged with incitement under Section 505a of the Penal Code.
Thet Naung, a lawyer representing the women, told Myanmar Now that prisoners are classified as first, second and third priority for release. More than 700 prisoners were released by the junta authorities on Wednesday.
“The ones released the other day were first priority. I’m guessing these women are second or even third priority, but we can’t say anything for sure now,” the lawyer said.
Family members of detainee Dahlia Maung said that the women had their fifth closed hearing at the prison’s court on July 1 and that another hearing was scheduled for July 15. The case is still reportedly under investigation.
Relatives of the prisoners said that it has been difficult to send letters or basic necessities to the women. They remain concerned for their health: Sandar Soe reportedly contracted an eye infection in prison and Dahlia Maung has had typhoid.
“I’m especially worried since I had to move away from Yangon, and our mother, who is from another town, had to come here to send her food. Even so, we couldn’t send her anything to eat at today’s court hearing,” Dahlia Maung’s relative said on Thursday.
On June 30, the military council released more than 2,000 detainees across the country who were facing lawsuits for allegedly violating Section 505a.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the military council has categorised detainees in a tiered priority system concerning their release: ordinary protesters are reportedly first priority, protesters who were allegedly armed or found to be destroying property are second priority, and members of the the National League for Democracy, Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw or the National Unity Government are third priority.
