The Supreme Court of the Union yesterday dismissed the appeal submitted Dr Aye Maung and author Wai Hun Aung who have been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for high treason and incitement for giving speeches in a public event.

The duo’s appeal to the High Court of Arakan State was dismissed on 21 May, so they submitted their appeal to the Supreme Court of the Union.

“No reason was written for the dismissal.  The final step will be to file a special appeal. The judgment will be given in the special appeal,” said U Aung Kyaw Sein, advocate for Dr Aye Maung’s case.

Daw Aye Nu Sein, lawyer for the case of author Wai Hun Aung, said that dismissing the appeal without carefully analyzing the decision made by Sittwe district court shows that a citizen could not enjoy his rights to the full extent of the legal system.

“This is a major case, I think, the Supreme Court should summon both sides to hear if the verdict of the lower court is in line with the existing laws. But we did not get that chance both in the Higher Court of Arakan State and Supreme Court of the Union,” Daw Aye Nu Sein said.

The Sittwe District Court sentenced prominent lawmaker Dr Aye Maung and author Wai Hun Aung to 20 years’ imprisonment on 19 March for high treason and incitement for giving speeches 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.