Apr 29, 2009 (DVB), A tutor who was arrested in March for staging a solo demonstration calling for the release of political prisoners has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Aung Pe was arrested on National Armed Forces day (also known as Resistance Day) on 27 March this year after protesting near the opposition party National League for Democracy's office in Twante township, Rangoon.

"He was given a year's imprisonment by judge Win Ko for violations against his movement restriction order," said a colleague.

"The place where he did the protest is still in the range of his movement limits and he clearly didn't violate the restriction order."

As well as calling for the release of political prisoners, Aung Pe demanded the right to reopen NLD branches across the country.

His restriction order was implemented following his arrest on Burmese independence day on 4 January for staging a similar solo protest.

According to NLD spokesperson Nyan Win, he had tied his hands together and saluted the Independence monument.

Reporting by Aye Nai