An international human rights group has called for an end to the repression posed by Myanmar’s ‘Peaceful Assembly Law’, that they say is often used to jail peaceful protestors.
27 January 2015 | Written by Mizzima | Published in Myanmar
An international human rights group has called for an end to the repression posed by Myanmar’s ‘Peaceful Assembly Law’, that they say is often used to jail peaceful protestors.
Human Rights Watch called on the authorities in Myanmar to stop arresting peaceful protesters and immediately and unconditionally free those imprisoned, according to a press release issued on January 26.
The call comes at a particularly poignant time for students currently marching from Mandalay to Yangon to protest against the National Education Bill. Some of the protestors claim police along the route have threatened them with arrest under this draconian piece of legislation. So far, no arrests have been made.
The US-based NGO called on Myanmar’s donors to press for amendments to the Myanmar law so that it protects the rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression.
“Burmese authorities are escalating arrests of people protesting peacefully over things like land and education,” said Mr Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Many have been sentenced to ridiculous prison sentences, undercutting government claims that it is genuinely reformist.”
Despite the passage of supposed reforms to the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law [“the Peaceful Assembly Law”] in June 2014, the NGO says the Myanmar authorities have arrested dozens of people for peaceful protests in recent months.
Those imprisoned or facing charges include people peacefully protesting against land grabs, the Letpaduang copper mine, and the controversial National Education Bill.
Even sole protestors are in danger of arrest, as in the case of U Zaw Mying, who was arrested on International Peace Day and charged under the law for a solo protest in which he held signs with slogans such as, “Please let hate and grudges end in the 20th century,” and “We want to be proud of our country in the international community.”
“The arrest of peaceful protesters does not augur well as Burma heads towards elections later this year,” Mr Adams said. “Election season will see many protests, which must be permitted and protected if the process is going to be truly democratic. There is no reason parliament can’t promptly amend the laws to allow protests in line with international standards. ”