Dec 20, 2007 (DVB), A National League for Democracy member in Hlaing Tharyar township who rejected the authorities' demands to leave the party has been sentenced to three years in prison for possession of a weapon.

On 2 December, soon after turning down the order, U Win Myint picked up a passenger in his trishaw at around 7am, according to his colleagues.

When he reached a bus stop, the passenger ran away and disappeared onto a bus, but Win Myint found that police and ward authorities were waiting for him at the stop.

They searched his trishaw and found a nine-inch knife, which Win Myint explained must have belonged to his passenger.

But the police refused to believe his story and took him into custody.

He was charged at the township court with possession of a weapon, and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment on 18 December.

Reporting by Aye Nai