"Myanmar authorities should immediately and unconditionally release and drop charges against six Karenni human rights defenders who published a statement criticizing two Myanmar officials for erecting a statue of Myanmar independence icon General Aung San in Loikaw, Karenni State (officially known as Kayah State), Fortify Rights said today. The Loikaw Township Court is scheduled to continue the trial on October 29. Myanmar authorities have arbitrarily detained the six human rights defenders in Loikaw prison since June. “Expressing criticism of public officials is legitimate, democratic, and not a crime,” said Matthew Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Fortify Rights. “The government should immediately drop these charges. No one should be prosecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.” On May 17, Deputy Director of the Karenni State Administration Office Thet Naung charged Khu Kyuphe Kay, 24, Khun John Paul, 26, Myo Hlaing Win, 25, Khun Tomas, 25, Dee De, 38, and Khu Ree Rhe, 25, for their involvement in sharing on March 25 a Burmese-language public statement on social media, accusing the Karenni State Chief Minister L Phaung Sho and Minister of Planning and Finance U Maw Maw of “being traitors to the Karenni people and enemies of ethnic unity.” On June 24, the Loikaw Township Court accepted the complaint against the six human rights defenders, denied their request for bail, and scheduled their trial to begin on July 3. Hearings have continued to take place since July 3, with the most recent taking place on October 17..."