The third hearing in the case of a trio of detained journalists and three civilians on charges of “unlawful association” was held on Friday, with two of the prosecution’s witnesses failing to appear before the court despite being scheduled to do so.

The trial of three journalists and three other men accused of “unlawful association” with an ethnic armed group began in earnest on Friday, with a court in Hsipaw Township, Shan State, taking testimony from the case’s plaintiff, an army major.

The judge apparently has to attend a training workshop on 21 July and is therefore unable to be in court that day.

A impromptu remand hearing was called today court for three journalists who were arrested last week in Shan State.

Burmese government forces, Kachin, Shan and Palaung rebels all involved in armed clashes this week.

Legal experts suggest that the case brought against three detained journalists who are being charged under Burma’s Unlawful Associations Act lacks a sound basis upon which to pursue prosecution, given the specifics of the colonial-era legislation’s provisions.