CPB is gutted to learn that Nay Phone Latt, has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison by the Burmese authorities. He was convicted of contravening a public law act by posting a cartoon of the head of the Burmese military junta on his blog. His colleague, Thin July Kyaw, was sentenced to two years imprisonment while two weeks ago three defence lawyers were sentenced to between four to six months in prison.

In September 2007 during the uprising, Nay Phone Latt’s blogs provided the world with information about what was going on in Burma as there was a dearth of information due a blackout of news coming out of the country by the military junta.

At the moment the courts are jam packed with activists being tried daily in processes that do not even come close to being mistaken for justice.

H/T to irrawady for informing us.

I then spoke with Preetam Rai , a blogger in SE Asia and contributor to Global Voices. Here’s his two cents.

From what I have heard, Myanmar has become like a intranet, people are still able to access to internally hosted sites but are not able to go outside. I am sure there is some outside access available but maybe limited to government officials and international companies. I have noticed that bloggers inside Myanmar who used to post non-political (There were some fashion, tech and korean tv drama themed blogs) content have also gone silent.

I thought that nik guy was outside Myanmar and he was collating information from all over.

What is happening though is that Burmese outside are able to call people inside and get some info. Some Myanmar bloggers are posting this information. However it is also getting harder to verify stuff. I think even if there were bloggers inside Myanmar they would not go near any cybercafe to report stuff about the protests.

My thought was that perhaps if not posting directly, people inside the country were texting to others who could post for them.

Well, at this point, I just don’t know what to think, but thought I should let you all know what I’ve discovered, even if it is, at this point, only suspicions. If anyone has any clarifying information, do please let us know. And thanks to all of you who took part in Free Burma day yesterday.