June OCTOBER CHRONOLOGY 2018 Summary of the Current Three Journalists from Eleven Media Arrested under Penal Code Situation: Accessed October 2018 © Voice of America 290 individuals are oppressed in Burma due to political activity: 28 political prisoners are serving sentences, 54 are awaiting trial inside prison, 208 are awaiting trial outside prison. WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK ACRONYMS OCTOBER 2018 1 ABFSU All Burma Federation of Student Unions CAT Conservation Alliance Tanawthari CNPC China National Petroleum Corporation EAO Ethnic Armed Organization GEF Global Environment Facility ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDP Internally Displaced Person KHRG Karen Human Rights Group KIA Kachin Independence Army KNU Karen National Union MFU Myanmar Farmers’ Union MNHRC Myanmar National Human Rights Commission MOGE Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise NLD National League for Democracy NNC Naga National Council PAPPL Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law RCSS Restoration Council of Shan State RCSS/SSA Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army – South SHRF Shan Human Rights Foundation TNLA Ta’ang National Liberation Army YUSU Yangon University Students’ Union TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2018 2 POLITICAL PRISONERS .................................................................. 4 CHARGES ............................................................................................................................................ 4 ARRESTS ............................................................................................................................................ 5 TRIALS ................................................................................................................................................ 6 SENTENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 7 CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT ......................................................................................... 7 FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS ............................................................................................ 8 RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ............... 9 LAND RIGHTS................................................................................................................................ 11 REFERENCES ...................................................................................15 POLITICAL PRISONERS CHARGES OCTOBER 2018 3 Arakan Social Activist Charged under because their article prompted “public 68(a) distrust in the company, as well as On October 1 Myo Lwin was charged under dishonoring the regional government”. Section 68(a) of the Telecommunications Kyee Myint, the defenses lawyer, accused Law for allegedly posting a fabricated the Yangon Regional Government of trying report on dead clams. According to Myo to destroy the entire newsroom by Lwin, millions of dead clams were found in arresting its senior editors. On October 11 a tributary that flows into Kyaukpyu and the Myanmar Press Council (MPC) issued a Ann Townships, Arakan State. Local statement denouncing the Yangon Regional residents have long feared that water Government charge against the journalists. pollution is responsible for this Aung Kyaw Khaing, the plaintiff and destruction, though the Government director of Rangoon government office, officially says that the clams died due to an however, said “the facts written by Phyo influx of freshwater from the monsoons. Wai are incorrect”. On October 19 with the The Deputy General Administrator journalists released on bail the Yangon instructed the Arakan State Government to Regional Government requested that the file the charges. The Police Chief of Ann Press Council require Eleven Media to Myoma Police Station carried out the publish an apology for its “incorrect story”. charge. This followed President U Win Myint saying that the Yangon Regional Government should submit their dispute Yangon Regional Government Brings under Section 22 of Press Council Law Charges Against Eleven Media before ever pressing charges. On October Journalists 26 the three journalists were granted bail On October 10, three senior journalists at for 1,000,000kyats ($630) each. Eleven Media were charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code. A lawsuit Four Protest Leaders Who Supported Fu brought by the Yangon Regional Yun Labour Strike Charged Government for publishing “incorrect On October 8, Aung Myint, Myat Kyaw, information” about the Government. The Kyaw Moe, and Thet Myo Aung were lawsuit relates to an article published in charged at Kyauktada Police Station under The Weekly Eleven on October 8 by Phyo Section 199 of the PAPPL, for supporting Wai Win saying that Rangoon ministers the Fu Yun labour strike. The four men Nilar Kyaw and Myint Thaung holds shares protested on October 7 in front of the in Yangon Metropolitan Development Public, Mahar Bandula park for the 30 female in which the Yangon Regional Government has labor leaders who were fired. The strike at 51% of the shares. The article also criticised Fu Yun Garment Factory began when they the business ventures of the Region Chief dismissed the 30 representatives for the Minister, Phyo Min Thein. Managing workers labor movement. editors Kyaw Zaw Lin, Nari Min, and chief reporter Phyo Wai Win were summoned to Two CNF Soldiers Charged Under the the Tamwe Police Station to testify to their Unlawful Association Act for Training role before being charged under Section With KIA 505(b) on October 10. If found guilty they On October 23, Police Lieutenant Kyaw face up to two years in prison. In a Win Naing from Rangoon charged two Chin statement released by the Yangon Regional National Front soldiers, Salai Naing Tun Government on October 11 it said that they and Aung Yan Lin for attending basic brought charges against the journalists training for four months with the KIA in Lai OCTOBER 2018 4 Zar. They were charged under Section String of Arkanese Student Activists 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act. The Arrested in Sittwe two men live in No.2 street in December On October 9, Arakanese social activist Housing Compound, Southern Dagon Aung Zaw Lin was arrested in Sittwe whilst Myothit Township. The two men joined the returning from University. A friend of his CNF in September 2017 and attended the spoke on condition of anonymity to the KIA training course in October this year. Irrawaddy, confirming his arrest by the The fleed Defense Service Academy (DFA) police. Aung Zaw Lin was taken to Sittwe’s because they didn’t want to serve in the No.1 police station. The arrest comes after armed forces and wanted to go to police questioned him on September 26 in University, according to the police report. regards to the death of a Military intelligence Corporal, Win Htike. Aung Zaw Lin is the Arakan Youth Conference’s NLD Party Spokesperson, Dr. Myo representative for Buthidaung Township. Nyunt, Charged by MP Tin Aung Tun On October 10, May Yu Tun was arrested in front of Lawkanandar Pagoda and taken to On October 23 former member of the NLD, Sittwe’s No.1 police station. May Yu Tun is Magway Division Lower House MP, Tin a member of of the Arakan National Party. Aung Tun charged Dr. Myo Nyunt under On October 11 Khine Bo Bo a.k.a Khine Section 10 of the Law Protecting the Thaw, a final year university student, was Privacy and Security of the Citizen, at arrested by police and taken to Pauktaw Minbu Police Station. Tin Aung Tun police station for questioning. Narinjara charged Dr. Myo Nyunt for telling the Media has reported that the police are media that two Lower House MPs, investigating at least eight suspects in an including Tin Aung Tun wanted to leave the alleged connection with the military Party, saying that this severely affected his corporal’s murder. The three Arkanese dignity. student activist were remanded for a further two week on October 22, having Two Protesters Charged Under Section already been in custody for a two weeks. 20 of PAPPL Kyauktada Township Police Station has Two Men Arrested Whilst Delivering charged two central committee members Pamphlets in Support of Fu Yun Factory of the Movement for Democracy Current Strike Force (MDCF), Thet Zin and Kyaw Zin Lat, On October 16, All Burma Federation of under Section 20 of PAPPL. The two Student Union (ABFSU) members, Ninn allegedly held a protest regarding the Aung and Wai Yan were wearing masks International Criminal Court (ICC) delivering pamphlets when they were recommendation for action to be taken arrested by a group. Thet Htar Swe, from against Burma’s Generals. The two men the Fu Yun Factory’s Labor Union said that held a protest in front of Maha Bandula the two men were arrested by Sanchaung park in central Rangoon. They two received Township Police. bail, the verdict is expected soon said another member of the MDCF central Four Arrested Villagers in Bhamaw committee, Mart Gyi. Released, Though Six Remain Detained On October 22, local villagers said the ARRESTS Military released four of the ten villagers it had detained whilst fighting with the KIA in OCTOBER 2018 5 Bhamaw Township, Kachin State. Bhamaw was ridiculed by villagers for admitting MP Zaw Thin announced that the Military that she did not know how to run her ward, had detained the villagers to serve as an apparent allusion to a comment made guides in an area unfamiliar to them. Di by the region’s chief minister to local media Hkaung, Chief of Nat Khuk village said that that she did not know how to run the the the