The Supreme Court of the Union tomorrow is going to make a decision if it accepts the appeal submitted by Dr Aye Maung and author Wai Hun Aung who have been sentenced to 20-years imprisonment, said a lawyer.

The duo had their appeal rejected in the High Court of Arakan State, so they submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court of the Union in Nay Pyi Taw on 29 May.

“We have three reasons to appeal to the court.  An offence of high treason means an attack using weapons. He was just giving speech and did not use a weapon. There was not a single case that was convicted as high treason for encouraging to do something even during the time of British rule,” said U Aung Kyaw Sein, an advocate for Dr Aye Maung’s case.

He pointed out that the men were sentenced under two separate charges. He added that he hoped the Supreme Court of the Union would accept the appeal.

“According to the law of Evidence Amendment Act, there are some flaws with the current charges against the men, so the charges should be amended. That’s why I hope the appeal would be accepted,” the lawyer said.

Sittwe district court sentenced Dr Aye Maung and author Wai Hun Aung to 20 years’ imprisonment for speeches given at a public event to mark the fall of the Arakan Kingdom to the Konbaung dynasty in 1784 which was held in Rathedaung Township in January last year.