Over 200 prosecuted within one year in cases relating to freedom of expression

04 January 2019
Over 200 prosecuted within one year in cases relating to freedom of expression
Local residents buy newspapers in Yangon. Photo: AFP

 The Athan (Voice) Activist Organization issued a report on January 3 which says 217 people were prosecuted in 103 cases in relation to freedom of expression during 2018.

Its ‘2018 Year End Analysis’ says that the government registered 53 cases with the Telecommunications Law, 14 cases with public mischief, 36 cases with the Peaceful Demonstration and Procession Law in total 217 people were prosecuted.

In these cases, 12 journalists were prosecuted in 9 various cases under section 66(d) of Telecommunication Law, section 505(b) of Penal Code (public mischief), sections 499/500 of Penal Code (defamation).

Founder of ‘Athan’, Maung Saung Kha, said that the three laws must be amended in regarding these prosecutions.

“We highlight in our report that three laws the Peaceful Demonstration and Procession Law, Telecommunication Law and Public Mischief section in Penal Code and defamation section 499/500 of Penal Code must be monitored and they must be inevitably amended,” Maung Saung Kha said.