Jan 30, 2009 (DVB), Lawyer Myint Thwin submitted an appeal to the central court yesterday on behalf of Mandalay National League for Democracy member Win Mya Mya and her five colleagues.

NLD organising committee member Win Mya Mya and five other party members were sentenced to between two and 13 years' imprisonment at the end of October last year for sedition.

Their previous appeals to local courts, most recently to Mandalay divisional court on 2 December, were summarily rejected on the same day they were submitted.

"I have submitted all the necessary documents for the appeal to the central court," Myint Thwin said.

"In the next three or four weeks, I will have to submit a proposal to the court to consider the appeal," he said.

"If the court agrees to hear the appeal, then we will have to give our statement in next three or four weeks."

Myint Thwin said he was also submitting an appeal on behalf of Kathy Aung, a political prisoner who recently suffered a miscarriage in New Mandalay prison.

"I’m also submitting an appeal for Kathy Aung at the divisional court and they have agreed to hear it," he said.

"The rest is up to the judges , they will decide according to the law if they will reduce her term or release her."

Kathy Aung was arrested in September 2008 and sentenced to 26 years' imprisonment in November under the Immigration Act.

Reporting by Aye Nai