The AA are an ethnic armed organisation (EAO) fighting against the government who have declared them as illegal. U Win Maung was sentenced under Article (17)1 of the Unlawful Associations Act that states: "Whoever is a member of an unlawful association, or takes part in meetings of any such association, or contributes or receives or solicits any contribution for the purpose of any such association or in any way assists the operations of any such association, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term [which shall not be less than two years and more than three years and shall also be liable to a fine]"

U Win Maung's lawyer, Daw Aye Nu Sein, said that they will appeal the sentence at Mrak Oo District Court because the verdict was unfair as no evidence linking U Win Maung to the AA had been produced in court.

The only evidence the authorities produced was a signed confession by U Win Maung that was submitted to the court by the Burma Army. Daw Aye Nu Sein claims that the army forced U Win Maung to sign the confession during his interrogation.

U Win Maung was arrested by soldiers from Burmese Intelligence on 23 April 2015 and accused of supporting the AA. Following his arrest he was interrogated by the Burma Army for many days before being handed over to the police. He was later charged with having links to the AA.

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI