Apr 1, 2009 (DVB), Seven members of opposition party National League for Democracy accused of a bomb plot were sentenced on Monday to five years imprisonment despite a distinct lack of evidence, said the wife of one.

The sentences were handed down exactly one year after they were first detained at Rangoon's Insein jail.

"[The police] could not provide any evidence," said Kyin Nu, wife of imprisoned Aung Than Tun.

"He was arrested because they claimed he was found at Minthagyee teashop, and by using the statement of an informer."

Kyin Nu added that Minthagyee teashop closed down over four years ago.

"We assume that they were arrested because they are NLD members," she said, adding that some of the police who questioned the suspects were subsequently promoted.

Another of the accused, Aung Kyaw, was arrested shortly before his son’s funeral, his wife Ma Chaw said.

"They came to arrest him in the evening, on the fourth day after the death of our child," she said.

"They told him to come with them for a short while. He told them he couldn't because he had to arrange for our son’s funeral."

Two of the accused were already serving lengthy prison sentences.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said the latest imprisonments show that the government is doing opposite of its promises to ease repression of opposition parties.

"In our view, these are signs of more oppression on NLD members and all pro-democracy activities."

Reporting by Nan Kham Kaew