Tet Taung Police Station and Ann Myoma Police Station filed the charges against the four protest leaders to Ann Township Court for placing the curse on April 25.

Ann Township Oil and Gas Watchdog’s chair U Myo Lwin, U Shwe Tun, U Tin Hlaing, and U Wunna Soe led in placing the curse at Myauk Kite Cemetery, Thanpayar Cemetery, Kha Maung Chaung Cemetery, and Sin Khone Daing Cemetery respectively.

“Four people who led the ‘curse protest’ have been charged under Section 19 at the township court. [Ann] Myoma Police Station filed the charges for placing a curse in two places and Tet Taung Police Station filed the charges for placing a curse in two places,” U Myo Lwin, chair of the Ann Township Oil and Gas Watchdog, told Narinjara News.

The protesters said they did not request permission from the police since the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law only includes a terminology for assembly and it is not related to the placing of curses.

“We don’t think we have violated the law. The Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law doesn’t include about placing a curse. When we staged a sit-in on April 3, we applied for permission before holding it. The township police chief himself told us that sit-in and placing of a curse are not included in the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. That’s why we didn’t apply for it,” said U Myo Lwin.

However, a letter has been submitted to inform the township administrator about the plan to place the curse and copies of the letter have been sent to the state chief minister, CNPC, and MOGE.

“We have only acted truthfully for the truth. We followed the law without violating it. We only made the demands for the truth. We won’t back down every time we get sued. We will accelerate our activities,” U Myo Lwin continued.

However, the activities will only be carried out after the court has set down a decision on the charges.

Ann Township Judge has scheduled the hearing for May 17 and the plaintiff, the township police chief, will be examined.