President Office has not given a directive for prosecuting Bullet Hla Swe

17 August 2019
President Office has not given a directive for prosecuting Bullet Hla Swe
Photo – Thura/Mizzima

President Office spokesman Zaw Htay said that they did not give directive to prosecute Hla Swe aka Bullet for criticizing the ruling government.

The spokesman said these words at the press briefing held at the Presidential Palace on August 16.

“We don’t have any directive given to anyone for arresting people for criticizing government. The government does not issue such directives. This is not the policy of our government too. People, media, CSOs are usually criticizing government. We welcome such criticisms. And also our president and state counselor time and again said this policy on their tours. We pay attention to the criticisms as the people’s voice and their opinions,” the spokesperson said.

Yangon Region, Kyauktada Township, deputy township administrator from General Administration Department, Myo Myint, registered a case against Hla Swe aka Bullet for his alleged role in criticizing and put blaming implicitly on the head of state and top government leaders at a protest demonstration against sanctions imposed by the US government against top Tatmadaw (Defence Services) officers, held on August 3 in front of Yangon Town Hall.

“Hla Swe’s case is different. The region government concerned presented to President Office how his speech violated and infringed the law concerned. And then the President Office looked into the case and gave sanction for prosecution accordingly in accordance with the law. I asked Myanmar Police Force on how the situation is regarding arresting him.”

The police are currently seeking to arrest Hla Swe as soon as possible,  spokesman Zaw Htay added.

The Hla Swe aka Bullet casehas been registered under section 124(a) of Penal Code (sedition) and now Yangon West District Court is waiting for executing of his arrest warrant as he is still at large.