Speeches and Decisions

Abstract

The trial drew to a close with December. It had gone smoothly and swiftly, by common standards, but it had been hard work, and even oppressive, for all those who had to take part in it. The atmosphere of Insein jail was not a cheerful one, and the constant guards added to the strain on all participants. Even the prosecution counsel found the unaccustomed police guards something of a burden. U Mya Thein discovered that the police guards who had come to make their camp in his compound did not know how to use their firearms, and spent some of their time every day practising; U Mya Thein took care to keep himself and his family out of the way of the nice and friendly but not too certain protectors. U Choon Foung, living in Bahan quarters of Rangoon, had a different problem with his guards. The boys were lonely sometimes in their long vigil, and they would slip out to woo neighbouring girls or go to the pwe; being well-mannered, they did not want U Choon Foung to see them go out, so they cut holes in the fencing.