Prominent opposition activist Ko Ko Gyi will be free to run in the November elections after the Yangon court trying him for unlawful assembly handed down a shorter-than-expected sentence or a small fine.
An unknown donor paid the fine on his behalf so as to shore up the 88 Generation student leader’s bid, his lawyer told the Irrawaddy.
“He said he is not a politician and he is only a civilian who wants Ko Ko Gyi to enter Parliament,” Robert San Aung said.
Ko Ko Gyi and four fellow activists, were yesterday found guilty of breaching the Peaceful Assembly Act during a protest in December.
They were given a 21-day sentence each or a 10,000 kyats ($8.30) fine.
“Compared with my previous terms [as a political prisoner], it is relatively small,” Ko Ko Gyi said, referring to the 21 days. “We already thought that if they charged us with this case, we would face it. If the case is finished today, we have other important things to do, such as make political decisions and undertake political activities.”
The activist received a summons to appear in court in South Okkalapa Township the same week as he announced he would run for opposition party the National League for Democracy.
On December 21, he and his fellow activists staged a protest in Ward 9 of Okkalapa Township, the site of a controversial condo project. They had been asked by the authorities to keep within Kyaikkasan Stadium in Tamwe Township.
Photo: Ko Ko Gyi on his release from prison in 2012 / Htoo Tay Zar / Wikico
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