June Chronology 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
JUNE CHRONOLOGY 2017 Summary of the Current Situation: There are 212 individuals oppressed in Burma due to political activities, 41 political prisoners are serving prison sentences, 49 are awaiting trial inside prison, 122 are awaiting trial outside Picture from DVB © 2017 prison. Accessed June 2017 FOR WEBSITE CLICK HERE; FOR TWITTER CLICK HERE; FOR FACEBOOK CLICK HERE JUNE 2017 1 Table of Contents POLITICAL PRISONERS ................................................................................................ 3 ▪ ARRESTS ............................................................................................................... 3 ▪ CHARGES .............................................................................................................. 4 ▪ DETENTIONS ...................................................................................................... 6 ▪ TRIALS ................................................................................................................... 7 ▪ SENTENCES ......................................................................................................... 8 ▪ CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT ........................................................... 9 ▪ RELEASES ......................................................................................................... 11 ▪ FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS .......................................................... 13 RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ..................................... 15 LEGISLATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS ................................................ 22 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 23 JUNE 2017 2 POLITICAL PRISONERS ▪ ARRESTS were owned by the Department of Agriculture. However, the farmers claimed that they were ancestral lands that Arrest Warrant for Farmers and Activists belonged to them. On June 1, Officer of the After Revoked Bail Department of Agriculture, Htay Linn, filed On June 1, Pyin Oo Lwin Township Court, a lawsuit against them under Section 447 of Mandalay, revoked bail for twelve farmers the Penal Code for trespassing and under and two activists, who were arrested in Section 114 of the Penal Code for being October 2016 for staging a protest over land abettors when the offence was committed at confiscation (See October Chronology). In the Windwinn Myoma Police Station. accordance with procedures, the court then (2 June 2017 – DVB/Burmese) issued an arrest warrant. Their lawyer commented that although the warrant is in Two Ta’ang Men Arrested by Restoration accordance with the law, the legal action Council of Shan State (RCSS)/Shan State against them has been unfair since the Army (SSA-South) beginning. On June 22, two Ta’ang men from Nar Site (16 June 2017 - Eleven Myanmar) Village, Lwe Pyinn Village Tract in Namtu 13 Arrested, 4 Released and 1 Killed Township were arrested by the Restoration After Interrogation in Shane State Council of Shan State (RCSS)/Shan State On June 27, according to Manlang village Army (SSA – South). Mine Aik San and Mine administrator, Kyaw Soe, 13 civilians were Nyi Aye were beaten and taken by RCSS. arrested by Military soldiers for making Mine Nyi Aye was released the following video recordings with their phones of a live day but Min Aik San is still in detention. On battle between the Ta’ang National June 26, the Ta’ang National Party released Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Military. a statement condemning the arrests. The One released resident, Kyaw Soe, reported statement also expressed concerns about that he along with three other residents 14 other local Ta’ang residents who were were release on June 28. One individual, arrested and are currently being detained named Apyaw, who supposedly suffers by the RCSS/SSA. from a psychological illness, died following (26 June 2017 – RFA/Burmese) interrogation from soldiers. Apyaw’s remains were dressed in a TNLA uniform and were left by the side of a road near the fighting. AAPP is currently trying to identify the other 9 civilians being detained and obtain more information regarding their detention. (27 June 2017 - Radio Free Asia/Burmese) (28 June 2017 - Radio Free Asia) Lawsuit Filed Against Eight Farmers for Trespassing On June 1, eight farmers from Windwinn (Wundwin) Township, Mandalay Division, were arrested for cultivating lands that JUNE 2017 3 ▪ CHARGES report, the three journalists had turned up at the illegal brick production site, had Students from Pathein University Now taken photographs, and threatened to Face Trial at District Level report on the issue. The Committee to On June 14, seven students from Pathein Protect Journalists has called on authorities University, Irrawaddy Division, faced to drop all charges against the three. On charges for defamation at the Pathein June 22, the International Federation of District Court, under Section 500 of the Journalists (IFJ) and the Myanmar Penal Code, for defamation, after staging a Journalist Association (MJA) jointly satirical drama critical of clashes between condemned the charges against the three the Military and armed ethnic groups journalists. In addition, they are calling for (EAGs) at their university on January 9. The all charges of criminal defamation against seven students had previously been journalists in Burma to be dropped acquitted of the charges when they were immediately. brought before the Pathein Township Court (15 June 2017 - RFA/Burmese) (15 June on May 12 but, upon an appeal made by 2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese) (15 June 2017 Lieutenant Colonel Aung Myo Khaing, the - The Voice/Burmese) (16 June 2017 - case has now been heard again. The DVB/Burmese) (16 June, 2017 - DVB) (16 students believe that the Military is eager to June, 2017 - Irrawaddy) (18 June 2017 - send them to prison for their actions. Two Mizzima/Burmese) (18 June 2017 - 7 Day other students who were not acquitted of Daily/Burmese) (19 June, 2017 - CPJ) (22 the charges on May 12 will soon face trial, June 2017 - International Federation of which is scheduled for June 28. AAPP will Journalists) report on the outcome of the trial as and Two Men Charged for Leading when we receive the information. Commemoration of Renewed Kachin (14 June 2017 - The Irrawaddy) (14 June Conflict in Hpakant Township 2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese) On June 19, Lamawng La Tawng and Taing Sau Bawm were charged under Section 19 Three Journalists Charged Under Section of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful 66(d) over Error in Facebook Report Procession Act by the Hpakant Township MGY Journal Editor Tin Shwe, MGY Journal Court for leading a commemoration of the Reporter Phoo Pwint Nay Chi, and renewed Kachin conflict on June 9. Democracy Today Reporter Zar Zar San Permission to hold the event at the Kachin were charged with defamation under Baptist Church had been granted to the Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications organizers and nearly 500 residents Law. Administrator of Myin Kin Village, attended the prayers. However, in court, the Magway Township, Htay Lwin, filed the accused were told they had failed to act in lawsuit with the Magwe Township 2 Police accordance with public event procedures. Station. Tin Shwe released a post from his The two men were released on bail set at 1 personal Facebook account, saying that million kyat each. Their next court hearing some brick plants continued operations, is on July 3. despite a general ban on brick production (19 June 2017 - The Irrawaddy) (20 June by the Magwe authorities. He wrongly 2017 - Mizzima/Burmese) reported however that the issue took place Six Arrested and Charged, Including in Myin Kin Village, rather than Thin Baw Three Journalists, in Namhsan Township Seit Village, which is why he was On June 26, six people, including three subsequently charged. Zar Zar San journalists, were arrested by Military commented on the post, calling the violation Forces near Myothit village in Namhsan unacceptable. According to the police JUNE 2017 4 Township, Shan State. The group, travelling held for more than 24 hours without being by two vehicles, was arrested during their remanded by a magistrate, against the return from a drug destroying ceremony statute of Section 376 of the Constitution. conducted by the Ta’ang National On June 29, Reporters Without Borders Liberation Army (TNLA), in called for release of the journalists and for commemoration of the International Day authorities to drop charges against them. Against Drug Abuse And Illicit Trafficking. AAPP is currently trying to determine the The three journalists have been identified identity of the three civilian individuals. as Aye Naing and Pyae Phone, both from the (26 June 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (26 June 2017 - Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and RFA/Burmese) (26 June 2017 - VOA/Burmese) Thein Zaw (a.k.a. Lawi Weng), from The (26 June 2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese) (26 June Irrawaddy. According to Major, Thet Naing 2017 - Mizzima/Burmese) (26 June 2017 - Oo, of Infantry Unit 503, the six individuals BBC/Burmese) (26 June 2017 - Democratic Voice of Burma) (26 June 2017 - The Irrawaddy) have been charged under Section 17/1 of (27 June 2017 - Myanmar Times) (26 June 2017 the Unlawful Association Act and are being - Reuters) (26 June 2017 - The Irrawaddy) (27 detained in Hsipaw Prison. The names of the June 2017 - 7 Day Daily/Burmese) (27 June three civilian drivers have not been 2017 - VOA/Burmese) (27 June 2017 - revealed yet. The group was arrested on VOA/Burmese) (27 June 2017 - alleged affiliations with the