TNLA Sentences Shan Detainee to Three Years in Prison

A TNLA spokesperson says that Nang Mo Hom was convicted in a court, with her family present.

By NETWORK MEDIA GROUP (NMG)

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Despite widespread public opposition to her detention, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has sentenced Shan mother of three Nang Mo Hom to three years in prison.

According to the TNLA’s information department in-charge, Maj Mai Aik Kyaw, the sentencing of “up to three years” was carried out on Friday in the organization’s central court and was due to Nang Mo Hom’s alleged violation of the TNLA’s Criminal Act 333.

He said that Nang Mo Hom—who comes from Namkham, northern Shan State—had disturbed on-duty TNLA soldiers when they were collecting “tax” in her community; one of the soldiers was subsequently killed by the Burma Army. Nang Mo Hom’s family has repeatedly denied that she had any involvement in the soldier’s death.

“It’s our law. Our on-duty service man was killed and one got seriously injured. She committed it,” Maj Mai Aik Kyaw told NMG.

According to the TNLA, Nang Mo Hom’s family members attended the hearing and sentencing on October 5. NMG was not able to reach her family at the time of reporting.

Nang Mo Hom has been in TNLA custody since August 17. It remains unknown if she will be able to appeal her sentence or where she will be detained.

The National Reconciliation and Peace Center, headed by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, released a statement on September 10 urging the TNLA to immediately allow Nang Mo Hom to return home and condemning her detention.

The Youth Network (Namkham), the Tai Youth Network and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy have also published statements calling for Nang Mo Hom’s release. A public demonstration was held in Namkham on September 17, the one-month anniversary of her arrest, with thousands of people participating.