Nov 05, 2008 (DVB)-Nine leaders of the 88 generation student group had been transferred to Ma-ubin prison in Irrawaddy division on 31 October, two days after they were sentenced to six months imprisonment in Rangoon Insein jail.

Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and other high-profile activists, were charged with contempt of court and sentenced after they complained that there was no fairness in their trial and refused to cooperate.

Aung Htun, who visited his brother Ko Ko Gyi on 2 November at Ma-ubin, said the group was accused of contempt of court because they remained silent when the judge asked them whether they were guilty or not.

"It seemed that they wanted the judge to make a decision based on his own conscience rather than asking them these questions," said Aung Htun.

"The judge asked them the same question three times but he did not get any response and he took their silence as confirmation of guilt," he added.

"I heard that in the past people used to get 20 years when they pleaded not guilty."

Reporting by Yee May Aung