US citizen on trial for "fraud and forgery" in Myanmar

Oct 14, 2009, 8:12 GMT

   Yangon- US national Nyi Nyi Aung, a former Myanmar student activist, went on trial Wednesday to face charges of 'fraud and forgery,' his defence team said.

   The Mingalardon Court at Insein Prison, where Nyi Nyi Aung is being kept, quickly adjourned this case until October 23.

   He is charged with fraud and forgery, his lawyers said.

   Myanmar authorities arrested Nyi Nyi Aung, a naturalized US citizen, on September 3 at Yangon International Airport on charges of entering the country 'to create unrest.'

   He is being defended by lawyers Kyi Win and Nyan Win, the same legal team that unsuccessfully defended Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, on charges of violating terms of her house arrest.

   'We met with Nyi Nyi Aung on Monday,' Nyan Win said before the trial began. 'He had been tortured but was in good health.'

   Nyi Nyi Aung has denied at all accusations.

   Last month, state media reports accused Nyi Nyi Aung of planning terrorist attacks.   

   'Steps are being taken to be able to take action against Nyi Nyi Aung, a citizen of a foreign country who, out of disloyalty to his motherland and people, planned to instigate unrest and launch terrorist attacks, and his internal contacts,' The New Light of Myanmar, a government mouthpiece, said in an article on September 24.

   The former student activist who participated in the 1988 anti-military protests reportedly fled to Thailand that year to join other student dissidents massed on the Thai-Myanmar border.         In 1994, he was granted refugee status and immigrated to the United States, where he became a citizen in 2005.

   He entered Myanmar nine times from 2005-09, meeting with various dissident groups, according to state media reports.

   'Putting them in contact with activists abroad to stage anti-government protests, he played an active part in exchanging information, providing financial assistance and breeding hardcores,' state media claimed.

   Nyi Nyi Aung also had links with dissident monks and members of the opposition National League for Democracy, The New Light of Myanmar claimed, citing government sources.