Myanmar opens trial of military intelligence
AFP, Yangon
Trials for more than 300 people linked to Myanmar's disbanded military intelligence unit began yesterday under a cloud of secrecy inside the notorious Insein prison, a legal source said. "The trials have started today," the source told AFP. "No less than 16 special tribunals being presided over by 16 divisional and district-level judges were set up inside the jail premises," said the source, who went inside the prison. Some 30 special courts are expected to eventually be operating within the prison walls, and the trials are expected to be concluded within 45 days. Thousands of people have been summoned for closed-door preliminary hearings in recent months. Journalists who had gathered at the main gate of the prison early Monday were denied access by security guards. No details of the trials were available.
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