We join the call of rights groups to have the charges against Karen environmental activist and I4C-East Asia community member Saw Tha Phoe dropped.
“It was an environmental issue and he was working for everyone to be able to enjoy a clean environment. He was just trying to protect against the actions of the company, which will damage the local community’s environment,” Sai Khur Seng of Save the Salween Network said.
Ko Ye Lin Myint from the Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability (MATA) told The Irrawaddy that it was meaningless for the Karen State government to take action against Saw Tha Phoe. “He was just praying for the environment and he did not commit any act of defamation against the government,” he said.