1 MARCH 2017

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Picture from Irrawaddy © 2017

Accessed March 21, 2017

MARCH CHRONOLOGY 2017

Summary of the Current

Situation:

There are 299 individuals

oppressed in Burma due to political activities,

93 political prisoners are

serving prison sentences,

85 are awaiting trial inside

prison,

121are awaiting trial outside

prison.

2 MARCH 2017

Table of Contents:

POLITICAL PRISONERS ................................................................................................ 3

ARRESTS .......................................................................................................................... 3

CHARGES ......................................................................................................................... 4

DETENTIONS ................................................................................................................. 5

SENTENCES .................................................................................................................... 7

CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT ...................................................................... 8

RELEASES ....................................................................................................................... 9

FORMER POLITICAL PRISONERS ..................................................................... 10

RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ..................................... 12

LEGISLATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS ................................................ 15

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM ....................................................................................... 17

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 20

3 MARCH 2017

POLITICAL PRISONERS

▪ ARRESTS

320 People Arrested by the MNDAA

The military reported that the Myanmar

National Democratic Alliance Army

(MNDAA) arrested about 320 employees

from the Fuli Light Hotel in Laukkaing

Township, Kokang Self-Administered Zone

in the Northern Shan State, as new recruits.

The MNDAA released 60 of the 320-arrested

people because they were of different

nationalities. The remaining 260 employees

were taken to Nant Hsan Town to attend

military training.

From March 6 to 12, at least 48 armed

clashes have occurred between the military

and the MNDAA.

(14 March 2017 - RFA/Burmese)(14 March

2017 – 7 Day Daily)

4 MARCH 2017

▪ CHARGES

50 Farmers in Roadblock Protest of

Letpadaung Copper Mine Charged by the

Authorities

50 farmers have been charged under

Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and

Peaceful Processions Act, Section 6(1) of the

Public Protection Act, and Sections 143 and

333 of the Penal Code for illegal

demonstration, unlawful assembly and for

assaulting the police in Salingyi Township,

Sagaing Division. On March 24, 2017,

dozens of farmers and residents protested

against the Chinese-run Letpadaung copper

mine over an accident that occurred on

March 11. In this accident, a truck hit a local

villager. In response, the villagers put up a

roadblock. Their demands are unknown.

Ten villagers and six police officers were

injured during the confrontation, which

human rights group Amnesty International

believe to be unprovoked.

(27 March 2017 - Radio Free Asia) (27

March 2017 - RFA/Burmese) (27 March

2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (28 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy/Burmese) (28 March 2017 -

Mizzima) (28 March 2017 - Eleven

Myanmar) (28 March 2017 - The

Voice/Burmese)

(29 March 2017 - Frontier Myanmar)

Additional Charge against One of the

Baptist Church Officials from Kachin

State

On March 6, one of the Baptist Church

officials arrested in December 2016 in Mong

Ko Township, Kachin State, was additionally

charged under Section 500 of the Penal

Code. The plaintiff Major Kyaw Zin Tun

charged Naung Lat at the Muse Township

Court for defaming the military. Naung Lat

and Gam Seng were arbitrarily taken into

custody on December 24, 2016 and kept in

secret detention for almost a month until

January 19 when the Army confirmed their

arrest and detention. On January 24, the two

church officials were finally transferred to

the Muse Police Station, Shan State, for

formal investigation under Sections 17/1

and 17/2 of the Unlawful Associations Act.

They were alleged to be providing

information, recruiting troops, and

transporting fuel to the Kachin

Independence Army (KIA). On February 7,

the Muse Township Court confirmed the

charges under Section 17/1 of the Unlawful

Associations Act and Section 8 of the Export

and Import Law.

(7 March 2017 – Mizzima/Burmese)

Four Activists Charged by Kamaryut

Police Station

On March 28, four activists were charged

under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly

and Processions Act by the Kamaryut Police

Station. The activists, Kyaw Ko Ko from the

Front of Socialist Democratic Union, Kaung

Htet Kyaw from All Burma Students’

Democratic Front (ABSDF), Ye Aung Aye

from the Youth of New Society and activist

Naing Zaw Kyi Win, were staging a protest

against the Mach 24 police crackdown,

when 10 villagers from Letpadaung were

injured in peaceful protest. Police warned

that the activists might be prosecuted for

not applying for permission.

(29 March 2017 - RFA/Burmese)

(29 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese)

(30 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese)

(30 March 2017 - Eleven)

5 MARCH 2017

▪ DETENTIONS

Court Hearing of Three Men Accused of

Bombing Moved to the Sittwe District

Court

On March 20, three men who appeared

before the Ponnagyunn Township Court

were moved to Sittwe District Court. On

January 2, Yin Maung, Naing Naing, and

Aung Aung were arrested by the Army for

allegedly participating in bombings near

Yoe Ta Yoke Village, Ponnagyunn Township,

in Rakhine State on January 1, 2017. They

were charged under Sections 17/1 and

17/2 of the Unlawful Associations Act, but

their court hearing was moved to the Sittwe

District Court so they can be charged under

Section 6 of the Explosive Substances Act.

Although they appeared six times before the

Ponnagyunn Township Court, according to

one of the accused, Yin Maung, the judge did

not investigate them nor the plaintiff.

(21 March 2017 – BNI/Burmese)

TNLA Accused of Mass Abduction in

Shan State Village

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army

(TNLA) has been accused of mass abduction

by local residents in Mongtat, Namtu

Township, Shan State. According to the

village elder, TNLA troops arrived in the

village on March 12, 2017, and abducted 91

locals who were at the monastery for the full

moon. The detainees were all men, ages

ranging from 20 to over 70. Most of them

were released the next day and had to walk

back all the way to their village, but there

are at least two villagers named Sai Nwan

and Lon Aik Gyi who remain in the group’s

custody. According to several locals

released, there were other detained

residents from the village of Mongmaw who

appeared to have been badly beaten.

TNLA spokesperson Mong Aik Kyaw denied

the allegations of mass abduction and

claimed that the TNLA had simply invited

the villagers to the command base to

discuss their security and livelihoods. He

dismissed any wrongdoing and insisted that

the TNLA troops took the villagers back

home the following day.

(14 March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (14

March 2017 - The Voice/Burmese) (14

March 2017 - DVB) (15 March 2017 - DVB)

SSPP/SSA Soldiers Appear before the

Muse Township Court After Almost One-

Year Detention

On March 13, 2017, 21 soldiers of the Shan

State Progress Party (SSPP) and its armed

wing, the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N)

who were arrested by the Military in Muse

Township, Shan State, in April 2016

appeared before the Muse Township Court.

They have been detained at the Muse

Township Detaining Centre for almost one

year. SSA-N Major Sai Hpone Han stated that

none of their requests to President U Htin

Kyaw, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu

Kyi and Commander in Chief Senior General

Min Aung Hlaing to release the soldiers has

been granted. He also added that the SSPP

signed both a ceasefire in 1989 after

negotiations with the State Law and Order

Restoration Council (SLORC) and a

nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in

2012 under the former U Thein Sein

Government. Following these ceasefires, the

Army has not used the Unlawful

Associations Act against the SSPP/SSA-N.

The Muse Township Court Judge told the

Army that although charging the soldiers

under Section 17/1 of the Unlawful

Associations Act was not illegal, they should

6 MARCH 2017

not do so because of the agreed ceasefires.

The Court has not ruled on the case yet.

(14 March 2017 – BNI/Burmese)

7 MARCH 2017

▪ SENTENCES

‘Nga Pha’ sentenced to six months’

imprisonment under Section 66(d)

On February 28, Rangoon resident, Zaw

Zaw, who goes by the name Nga Pha on

Facebook, was sentenced to six months of

imprisonment with hard labor by the North

Dagon Township Court under Section 66(d)

of the Telecommunications Law. Zaw Zaw

will be serving his sentence in the Insein

Central Prison, Rangoon, for posting text

and photos on Facebook that were regarded

defamatory against State Counsellor Daw

Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Htin

Kyaw. On December 14, 2016, he was

formally charged under Section 66(d) in

North Okkalapa Township Court, Rangoon.

Zaw Zaw was arrested on October 7, 2016

and has been in detention ever since.

(1 March 2017 - Anadolu Agency) (1 March

2017 - 7 Day Daily/Burmese) (1 March

2017 - Free Malaysia Today)

Sagaing Labor Protesters Sentenced

Under Peaceful Assembly Act

On March 7, 2017, after almost one year of

trials, seven workers from the Myanmar

Veneer & Plywood Private Ltd. factory in

Sagaing Industrial Zone, Mandalay Division,

were sentenced under Section 18 of the

Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession

Act and Section 341 of the Penal Code for

preventing other laborers from working. In

April 2016, dozens of workers protested for

improved labor rights in front of the factory.

Several of them were arrested in May 2016

while trying to march to the country’s

capital, Naypyidaw, to draw attention to

their demands. In March 2017, protest

leader Ko Khaing Min and two other

workers were sentenced to four months

imprisonment under Section 18 of the

Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession

Act, while he and four other workers

received one month imprisonment on top of

that, for blocking the factory entrance and

interrupting business during the protest.

Some of them, notably Ko Khaing Min, had

already been sentenced to one month

imprisonment and a 5,000 Kyat fine

(US$4.00) in July 2016 for contempt of court

and five months imprisonment for unlawful

assembly in October that year.

(7 March 2017 - Irrawaddy) (7 March 2017

- RFA/Burmese) (7 March 2017 -

Eleven/Burmese) (8 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy/Burmese)

Three Social Activists from Arakan State

Sentenced to 15 Days Imprisonment or

fine

On March 14, social activists Zaw Win, Oo

Than Hlaing, and Win Naing were sentenced

to 15 days imprisonment or to pay a 30,000

Kyat fine (US$20.00) by the Butheedaung

Township Court in Rakhine State. All three

paid the fine to the court the same day. They

were charged under Section 19 of the

Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful

Processions Act for announcing at a meeting

in Butheedaung Township on August 17,

2016, that some members of the citizenship

committee (namely the Butheedaung

Township Administrator, the Township

Director of the Immigration and National

Registration, the Butheedaung Township

Superintendent, the Township Judge and

Executive Officer of the Township

Development Corporation) were national

betrayers.

(7 March 2017 – Mizzima/Burmese) (15

March 2017 – BNI/Burmese)

8 MARCH 2017

▪ CONDITIONS OF

IMPRISONMENT

Political Activist charged with Sedition

and Incitement, Denied Bail Twice

Human Rights Defender and Deputy

Information Officer of Arakan Liberation

Party (ALP) Khaing Myo Htun continues to

remain in detention after his bail

application was denied for the second time

by Sittwe District Court on February 27. His

appeal at the Sittwe Township Court had

been denied. According to Khain Myo Htun,

the plaintiff failed to attend a total of three

court hearings, which delayed the process

unnecessarily. His next step will be to apply

at Sittwe State Court. On May 5, 2016

Lieutenant Colonel Tin Naing Tun of the

Military filed a complaint against Khaing

Myo Htun under Sections 505(b) and (c) of

the Penal Code for sedition and incitement,

which prescribes up to two years of

imprisonment for publishing a statement on

behalf of ALP on April 24, 2016 implicating

the military for using civilian forced labor

and committing international crimes

against civilians in Rakhine State. Following

the complaint, Khaing Myo Htun was

arrested by the Sittwe police on July 25,

2016. Reportedly, since his detention, his

trial has been excessively delayed without

any proper explanation.

(1 March 2017 - Jakarta Post) (2 March

2017 - Narinjara/Burmese) (16 March 2017

- Narinjara/Burmese)

Despite Calls for Reform, Prisoners

Continue Hard Labor in Shackles (MS)

In late January, Myanmar Now Reporter,

Swe Win, photographed dozens of thin-

looking and shackled prisoners at Zin Kyeik

Labor Camp, Mon State. Photos show

prisoners manually breaking rocks during

quarry work while shackled at their legs.

When interviewed by the reporter, prison

authorities claimed that only recently

arrived prisoners were subjected to the

shackling. According to deputy director at

Zin Kyeik Camp, Aung Lwin Oo, this practice

is necessary to deter escape attempts,

although he recognizes that such measures

may be a form of additional punishment.

(4 March 2017 - Mizzima) (5 March 2017 -

Frontier Myanmar)

9 MARCH 2017

▪ RELEASES

Border Guard Force released two

Villagers from Eastern Shan State

On March 17, Border Guard Force (BGF)

1008 (previously called the Lahu People

Militia) released two villagers from Maing

Young Township in Eastern Shan State. The

villagers, Lone Nan On from Want Htin

Village and Sai Nwe Nan Sai from Want Ho

Yan Village, had been arrested on March 13

and 16 respectively, under the suspicion

that they were informants of the

Restoration Council of Shan State. They

were thereafter detained in Light Infantry

Battalion 335, but released with the

support of their village heads, because of a

lack of evidence.

(30 March 2017 – BNI/Burmese)

10 MARCH 2017

▪ FORMER POLITICAL

PRISONERS

Former Political Prisoner Appointed as

the Chief Minister of Mon State

The National League for Democracy (NLD)

lawmaker and former political prisoner Dr.

Aye Zan was appointed as the Chief Minister

of Mon State on March 1. He is a regional

lawmaker from Kyaikto Township.

Following the resignation of the former

Chief Minister Min Min Oo, he was

nominated to be appointed by President U

Htin Kyaw. His candidature was approved

in the Mon State Parliament with no

objections. Dr. Zan was an elected NLD

candidate in the 1990 elections and has

since served as the Chairman of the NLD’s

Kyiakto Branch.

(1 March 2017 - Mizzima/Burmese) (1

March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (2 March

2017 - Irrawaddy) (2 March 2017 - Eleven)

88 Generation Activists to Form Political

Party in 2018

Well-known former student leaders and

political activists of the 88 Generation Peace

and Open Society Ko Ko Gyi, Min Zayya and

Thet Htun, plan to form a new political party

in early 2018 to contest in the 2020 general

election. Ko Ko Gyi, who spent a total of 17

years in prison between 1989 and 2012,

clarified that the party would not oppose

the National League for Democracy (NLD)

ruling party but rather cooperate with other

parties through a pro-people policy.

A meeting for discussing the organization of

the party is scheduled to be held at the end

of March at the Federation of Chamber of

Commerce and Industry in Rangoon.

(2 March 2017 - Mizzima/Burmese) (3

March 2017 - Myanmar Times) (3 March

2017 - Irrawaddy)

(3 March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (17

March 2017 - Frontier Myanmar)

Former Political Prisoners Society

Denounces Threats to Constitutional

Reform

At a conference in Rangoon on March 5,

Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS)

released a statement denouncing anyone

who opposes the process of constitutional

reforms. An executive member of FPPS, Ye

Naing Aung, emphasized that amendments

to the 2008 Constitution are necessary for

the development of the country and the

peace process is interdependent with these

reforms. Anyone who hinders the peace

process is indirectly disturbing

constitutional reforms. At the Conference,

the organization also reiterated their

demand for immediate and unconditional

release of the remaining political prisoners

and enactment of a law to rehabilitate

former political prisoners.

(3 March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar)

FHI 360 Provides Fellowships for

Former Political Prisoners

From July to December 2017, US-based non-

profit human development organization

FHI 360 will provide 50 fellowships for

former political prisoners in Burma. To be

eligible to the fellowship, former political

prisoners must have been incarcerated

between 1988 and 2010. Joint Secretary of

the Assistance Association for Political

Prisoners (AAPP) U Bo Kyi explains, they

cannot apply if they have already a job with

a steady income or if they lead a particular

organization. The selection is then up to a

special board composed of members from

FHI 360, AAPP and the 88 Generation Peace

11 MARCH 2017

and Open Society. Successful candidates will

be provided with a laptop, a mobile phone

and a 300,000 Kyat grant (about US$220).

They will have the opportunity to work with

organizations involved in policy dialogue

and advocacy for Burma’s democratization

and national reconciliation process.

This program is part of the four-year Civil

Society and Media Project initiated by FHI

360 in September 2014 and aimed at

fostering engagement in local civil society

organizations and independent media

organizations.

(23 March 2017 - Irrawaddy) (23 March

2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese)

12 MARCH 2017

RESTRICTIONS ON CIVIL AND

POLITICAL RIGHTS

Section 66(d) Abolishment Proposal

Suspended

On March 10, National League for

Democracy (NLD) MP Ye Htut told the

media that he was not able to propose

abolishment or amendment to Section

66(d) of the Telecommunications Law at the

Upper House meeting. The NLD’s

scrutinizing committee, which is

responsible for checking NLD MPs’

questions and motions before they are

submitted to Parliament, refused to address

Ye Htut’s proposal to repeal Section 66(d),

claiming that it was an inappropriate

question regarding the current situation of

Burma. Ye Htut plans to submit the

proposal again at the next Upper House

session.

(10 March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (10

March 2017 - RFA/Burmese) (11 March

2017 - 7 Day Daily/Burmese) (11 March

2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (13 March 2017 -

Myanmar Times)

Prominent Journalist Swe Win Faces

Defamation Case

Myanmar Now Chief Reporter Swe Win

[pictured above] is being sued under

Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications

Law for allegedly defaming The Association

for the Protection of Race and Religion (Ma

Ba Tha) leader U

Wirathu. On February 28, 2017, Swe Win

used his Facebook account to state that U

Wirathu had transgressed the Buddhist

monk code by publicly praising the murder

of prominent Muslim lawyer and National

League Democracy legal adviser U Ko Ni. A

supporter of the Ma Ba Tha movement

named Kyaw Myo Shwe reported the

comments to U Wirathu, who asked for a

formal apology from the journalist within

seven days. Swe Win however refused to do

so, claiming that he saw no reason to

“Apologize to anyone who supports

murderers.” As a result, U Wirathu

instructed Kyaw Myo Shwe to file a lawsuit

against Swe Win under Section 66(d) of the

Telecommunications Law on March 7, 2017.

According to Police Lieutenant and head of

the No. 7 Police Station in Mahaaungmyay

Township, Mandalay Division, Kyaw Thu,

Swe Win will soon be contacted for

questioning. On March 10, 2017, U Wirathu

was banned from preaching sermons across

Burma for a year by the Buddhist authority

State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee. But

despite the ban, U Wirathu continued to give

silent sermons to protest this decision.

On March 14, 2017, Swe Win was

threatened by three men who tried to attack

him in the street on his way home. Although

he was not injured, Swe Win has decided to

open a case against his assailants in

Sanchaung Court.

On March 20, 2017, a new complaint was

filed against Swe Win at the Kyauktada

Township Court, Rangoon Division,

accusing the journalist of insulting religion.

Kyimyndine Township resident Thet Myo

Oo indeed asked the court to charge Swe

Win under a suitable provision of the Penal

Code for insulting Buddhism during a press

13 MARCH 2017

conference and an interview related to his

first lawsuit. Swe Win’s legal adviser Khin

Maung Myint said that although the court

has accepted the complaint, it has not

decided to prosecute Swe Win yet, and it is

waiting for the police to verify the

accusations and report back on April 3

before taking any further action. But

according to the lawyer who reviewed his

client’s words at the public conference,

“There is no firm evidence that Swe Win has

insulted religion”.

A similar suit under Section 66(d) of the

Telecommunications Law was brought

against Ma Ba Tha Kyaw Myo Shwe over a

Facebook post allegedly defaming Daw

Aung San Suu Kyi. It is suspected that the

lawsuit is a retribution for the complaint

filed by him against Swe Win.

On March 20, the Members of the Patriotic

Myanmar Monks Union (PMMU) also

started collecting signatures for a petition in

order to take legal action against Swe Win

for insulting all Buddhist monks when

criticizing U Wirathu. So far, they have

collected about 40,000 signatures. They

plan to submit them to the Mandalay’s

Regional Religion Department on April 4,

2017.

(8 March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (8 March

2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (8 March 2017 -

RFA/Burmese) (8 March 2017 -

VOA/Burmese) (8 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy/Burmese) (8 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy) (8 March 2017 - RFA) (8 March

2017 - DVB) (8 March 2017 - Frontier

Myanmar) (9 March 2017 - RFA/Burmese)

(9 March 2017 - Myanmar Times) (9 March

2017 - Mizzima) (9 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy) (10 March 2017 - Myanmar

Times) (12 March 2017 - DVB) (12 March

2017 - Frontier Myanmar) (14 March 2017

- Eleven/Burmese) (14 March 2017 - The

Voice/Burmese) (15 Mars 2017 -

Irrawaddy) (16 March 2017 - Myanmar

Times) (16 March 2017 - Frontier

Myanmar) (20 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy/Burmese) (20 March 2017 -

BBC/Burmese) (20 March 2017 -

RFA/Burmese) (20 March 2017 - The

Voice/Burmese) (20 March 2017 -

Mizzima/Burmese) (21 March 2017-

Irrawaddy) (21 March 2017 - Coconuts

Yangon) (21 March 2017 - Irrawaddy) (22

March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (21 March

2017 - 7 Day Daily/Burmese) (30 March

2017 - RFA)

Rangoon Resident Files Defamation Suit

Against Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw Myo

Shwe

A Sanchaung Township resident and

member of Network of the Promoters of

Rule of Law, Mya Mya Htay filed a suit under

Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications

Law against Ma Ba Tha member Kyaw Myo

Shwe for a Facebook post allegedly insulting

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Facebook post

from Kyaw Myo Shwe’s account stated that

if a military coup happened again, it would

be the fault of the General’s daughter. Kyaw

Myo Shwe was reported to state in his

defence that there were many generals and

that he was not referring to Daw Aung San

Suu Kyi. According to Kyaw Myo Shwe, this

suit is a direct response for the defamation

suit filed by him under the same provision

against prominent journalist Swe Win for

insulting U Wirathu on March 7.

(13 March 2017 - RFA/Burmese) (13

March 2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese) (13

March 2017 - The Voice/Burmese) (14

March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (14 March

2017 - 7 Day Daily/Burmese) (14 March

2017 - Irrawaddy) (15 March 2017 -

Myanmar Times)

14 MARCH 2017

Mother Sues Son for Calling Her a

‘Prostitute’ on FB

A Burmese woman named Tin Tin Hla from

Kyaukkyi Township, Bago Division, is suing

her own son Wana Oo for calling her a

‘prostitute’ in a Facebook comment

criticizing her new relationship. On March

21, the Police arrested the 21-year-old man

who fully confessed to the accusation. He

was charged under Section 66(d) of the

Telecommunications Law and faces up to

three years in prison.

(21 March 2017 - The Voice/Burmese) (21

March 2017 - Frontier Myanmar) (21 March

2017 - Nation Multimedia) (22 March 2017

- Mizzima) (22 March 2017 - DVB)

10 Villagers Injured in Letpadaung Clash

while Protesting

On March 24, at least 10 farmers and local

residents were injured during protest in

Salingyi Township in Sagaing Region when

police started firing rubber bullets to

disperse the crowd. Six police officers were

injured in the same protest. The villagers

were blocking a roadway to a controversial

copper mine, their demands are unknown.

An order issued on March 22 banned the

demonstration and threatened to arrest

protesters. Dozens of villagers continued

their protest despite the ban, resulting in a

violent police crackdown. The protest

continued after the crackdown. Legal action

was taken against 50 villagers a few days

later.

(24 March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (24 March

2017 - The Voice/Burmese) (24 March

2017 - VOA/Burmese) (24 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy/Burmese) (24 March 2017 -

Radio Free Asia) (25 March 2017 -

RFA/Burmese) (25 March 2017 -

Eleven/Burmese) (25 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy) (25 March 2017 - Eleven

Myanmar) (26 March 2017 - RFA/Burmese)

(26 March 2017 - Irrawaddy/Burmese) (27

March 2017 - Myanmar Times) (27 March

2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (27 March 2017 -

BBC/Burmese) (27 March 2017 -

VOA/Burmese) (30 March 2017 - Myanmar

Times)

NLD Chairman Filed Suit under 66(d)

against former member of ethnic armed

group

On March 4, 2017, NLD chairman from the

Bawlakhe Township, Sai Gyi, filed a suit

under 66(d) of the Telecommunication Law

against Phoe Thada, former member of an

ethnic armed group (EAG). The suit was

filed at the Bawlakhe Township Myoma

Police Station, Kayah State. The day before,

Phoe Thada sent a threatening text message

to Sai Tyi regarding illegal logging. Before

that incident, Phoe Thada had already gone

to Sai Gyi’s house and had threatened his

wife.

(4 March 2017 – Eleven/Burmese)

15 MARCH 2017

LEGISLATION AND POLICY

DEVELOPMENTS

Ministry of Home Affairs Maintains No

Definition of ‘Political Prisoners’ and

‘Political Offences’

Member of Parliament from Myebon

Township, Rakhine State, Pe Than, asked on

June 2, 2016 whether the Government had a

plan to define the meanings of ‘Political

Prisoners’ and ‘Political Offence’. On March

9, 2017, military appointed Deputy Home

Affairs Minister, Major General Aung Soe

replied in the Lower House that the Military

has no such plans. Pe Than, reportedly

stated, since the Ministry was a part of the

executive body of the Government, its

resolution represented the decision of the

government. He also emphasized that in

order to protect the rights of the politicians

these terms need to be defined.

(9 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (10

March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar)

Privacy Bill Passed by the Parliament,

Critics Sceptical

On March 8, President U Htin Kyaw signed

a new Privacy Bill. The Bill limits

household arrests, detention over 24

hours, and inspections, as well as

surveillance of individuals and their

private communications including phone

taps, prescribing prison terms and fines for

violations. Nine civil society organisation

expressed concern over what was called

the ‘flawed legislation’. Primary criticism

includes the claim that its definition of

privacy does not meet international norms,

it lacks clarity on warranted breaches of

privacy or on how much private data shall

be kept, and that the process of law

formation occurred without public

consultation. The regional outreach

manager of the Myanmar Centre of

Responsible Business (MCRB) highlighted

need for additional separate legislation

regarding lawful communication

surveillance.

(1 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (3

March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (4 March

2017 - Irrawaddy) (8 March 2017 -

Eleven/Burmese) (9 March 2017 -

DVB/Burmese) (10 March 2017 - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese) (15 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy)

Parliament to Oversee the Judicial

System to Curb Corruption

On March 8, the Upper House witnessed a

heated debate over a proposal to allow

Parliament to oversee the judiciary to curb

corruption in the system. Lawmaker from ,

Bago Region, Tin Htwe put forward the

proposal to the Lower House on February

10 suggesting that a jury system should be

adopted to improve the judiciary. Chief

Justice Soe Nyunt raised objections to the

proposal claiming that there was no

convincing evidence or named corrupt

judges to prove that the judiciary was

corrupt. According to him, less than one

percent of the judges were found guilty of

corruption charges where the Supreme

Court is administering an annual workload

of over 300,000 cases. He dismissed the

16 MARCH 2017

accusations by saying that such

assumptions harm the dignity of the courts

and may amount to contempt of court.

Lawmaker Yan Aung mentioned that the

Parliament’s Judicial and Legal Affairs

Complaints and Appeals Committee was

inspecting the courthouses and there were

many allegations of judges demanding

bribes. Despite objections raised by the

Chief Justice, the proposal was passed by a

majority of 286 lawmakers with four

negative votes and 61 abstentions.

(7 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (7 March

2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (7 March 2017 -

Eleven/Burmese) ( 8 March 2017 -

Irrawaddy) (8 March 2017 - Democratic

Voice of Burma)

Government to Return Land to Mandalay

Farmers

On March 6, 2017, Mandalay Region

Parliament promised to return more than

768.9 hectares (1,900 acres) of confiscated

land to their original farmers during a

special ceremony in April. Regional Minister

for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr.

Soe Than stated that investigations into

land grabs are still underway and that the

farmland would be returned along with

Form-7 and Form-3 land ownership

certificates.

This statement follows a protest launched

by Mandalay farmers on February 24, 2017,

against land seizures and detained farmers

under Sections 505, 447 and 427 of the

Penal Code for causing public mischief

against the state, trespassing, and causing

damage.

(7 March 2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (7 March

2017 - Eleven Myanmar) (8 March 2017 -

Myanmar Times)

Over 300 Farmers from Mandalay to Get

Land Compensation

On March 29, 2017, Naypyidaw Council

member U Min Thu compensated 381

farmers for confiscated lands under the

former government in Dakhinathiri and

Zabuthiri Townships, Mandalay Division.

Total compensations amount to more than

K940 million (US$687,000) for 899 acres of

crop fields and farmlands. In Dakhinathiri,

332 farmers received K776 million

(US$567,000) for 743 acres, while in

Zabuthiri, 49 farmers received K165

(US$120,000) million for 156 acres. If some

farmers are satisfied with this decision,

others do not share this view and would

prefer to get their land back rather than

financial compensation because the profit is

higher when gained from farm produce.

(29 March 2017 - Mizzima/Burmese) (29

March 2017 - DVB/Burmese) (29 March

2017 - Eleven/Burmese) (31 March 2017 -

Myanmar Times)

Over 500 Farmers from Hinthada

Township Receive Land Compensation

On March 30, land committees of ten

villages in Irrawaddy Division received

over ten billion Kyats (US$7,365,000), that

they can in turn distribute to farmers that

suffered land confiscation during river

pumping activity in Hinthada Township.

The beneficiaries of the compensation are

699 farmers in the ten villages, who owned

a total of 536 farmlands.

(30 March 2017 – RFA/Burmese)

17 MARCH 2017

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM

1500 Prison Staff to be appointed

According to Deputy Director of the

Corrections Department within the Ministry

of Home Affairs, Min Tun Soe, 1500 prison

employees will be appointed in the whole

country in 2017 due to the increase in the

number of prisoners. There are currently

over 70,000 prisoners in Burma and over

260 prison staff, which affects the work of

prison employees. The minimum starting

salary of a prison staff is 150,000 Kyat

(about US$110) plus 1,000 Kyat per day for

food.

(20 March 2017 – 7 Day Daily/Burmese)

MNHRC Finds no Human Rights

Violations in Rangoon Prison System

The Myanmar National Human Rights

Commission (MNHRC) conducted an

inspection tour of the cells and prison

camps in Rangoon region in February. The

Commission posted its findings on its

website in March, according to which the

there were no human rights violations

found in the prisons barring a few

infrastructural repairs required. MNHRC

members visited the Correctional

Department, Minkon Prison Camp,

Rangoon, Hlayhlawin Vocational Training

Camp, also Rangoon, Hlegu Myoma Police

Station and Township Court, Rangoon

Thingangyun Police Station and Township

Court, Rangoon Thuwunna Police Station,

Rangoon, and South Okkalapa Myoma

Police Station and Township Court,

Rangoon. On the basis of the inspection

tours, the MNHRC made recommendations

to improve the living conditions of the

prison system, including, expansion of

hostels and cells to accommodate more

prisoners, increase in the number of staff,

minor building and sewage repairs.

(6 March 2017 - MNHRC/Burmese) (14

March 2017 - Eleven Myanmar)

Mon State repairs detention centres

following recommendations by MNHRC

On February 28, 39 detainees awaiting trial

in Paung Township Jail and Mottama

Township Jail, both in Mon State, were

reported to be taken to Kyaikmaraw Prison

in Mon Sate, as the two Detention Centres

were being repaired as directed by the

Myanmar National Human Rights

Commission (MNHRC). Deputy Chief of

Paung Township Police Station said, “Acting

on directions from the Human Rights

Commission, we are going to repair the

[lockup] cells which may take upto two

weeks.” If the detainees from the Paung

Township were given jail terms they would

ideally be sent to Thaton Prison, Mon Sate,

however, due to lack of space in Thaton

Prison they were being sent to Kyaikmaraw

Prison.

(2 March 2017 - Burma News International)

Significant Plans on the Agenda towards

the improvement of women’s rights

under the NLD

On the occasion of International Women’s

Day, Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and

Resettlement and Chair of Myanmar

National Committee for Women’s Affairs

(MNCWA), Dr. Win Myat Aye spoke about

the Government’s plan to support gender

equality and women’s rights. As the

18 MARCH 2017

Chairman of MNCWA, he emphasised a

renewed approach of the functioning of the

Committee. The Committee will work in

collaboration with the Myanmar Women’s

Affairs Federation, Maternal and Child

Welfare Association, women lawyers and

women’s networks to get the laws

preventing violence against women and

protecting women’s rights approved. The

National Strategic Plan for the

Advancement of Women (2013-2022)

which started in 2013 has been focusing on

12 priority areas: livelihood, poverty

reduction, education and training, health,

halting violence against women,

emergencies, economy, decision making,

institutional mechanisms, human rights,

media, environment, and children. There

are many simultaneous action plans being

developed by the Ministry to work for

better implementation.

(9 March 2017 - Irrawaddy)

Legal Experts claim Government’s Plan

for Judicial Reforms to be ineffective

As a part of the ‘one-year performance

report’ released by the National League of

Democracy (NLD) led Government, claims

were made by the Government that the

Judicial System is in accordance with the

standards widely practiced in democratic

countries. The claims were based on extra

resources given to the judiciary and

upgrades made to the court facilities as per

Government’s Judiciary Strategic Plan for

2015-17. According to a report published by

the Supreme Court, court user satisfaction

had risen in the three improved pilot Courts

- Bago Division’s Taungoo District Court,

Rangoon Division’s Hlaing Township Court

and Karen State’s Hpa-an Township Court.

Despite these claims, the legal community,

including lawyers and legislative

committees, have reportedly stated that

there have been no significant improvement

in the judicial sector under the new NLD

Government and its three year strategic

plan was ineffective in reforming the courts.

Former Chairman of Myanmar Lawyers’

Network (MLN), Kyee Myint, alleged that

with the same judicial staff, police and

judges, the issue of corruption continues to

cripple Burma’s judiciary. Another founding

member of MLN Thein Than Oo added that

since the existing system originates from

Military drafted 2008 Constitution, the

training and mindsets of the judicial staff

reflects the stance of the dictatorship. The

Chair of the Upper House Parliamentary

Public Complaints Committee, Sann Myint,

stated that the Committee received more

than 4000 complaints from the public

during 2016 with more than half relating to

dissatisfaction from the judicial system.

Contrary to the Government’s Strategic Plan

these legal experts emphasize on a

foundational transformation in the judicial

system for effective reforms.

(23 March 2017 - The Irrawaddy)

Rangoon Regional Judiciary Committee

critical of Independence of Judiciary

System

Township courts are housed on land

owned by General Administration

Department, and that is problematic, as

stated by the Region Hluttaw Judicial, Rule

of law, Complaints and Appeals Scrutiny

Committee (JRLCASC). Courts and court

offices and the legal officer’s office have

been in compounds together with the

general administration, such as in

Kungyangon and Insein northern district. In

fact, about 20 percent of the court offices

studied in 44 townships in Yangon region

except Coco Island are found to be

constructed on land owned by other

ministries, the committee said.

19 MARCH 2017

Recommendations focus on ridding the poor

image of the judiciary system, and include

separation of both the court office and legal

office from other general offices, the

reconstruction of courts and police stations

with poor appearance, the formation of

watch teams for the judiciary system,

Constitutional amendments, while the

committee steers toward fundamental

reform.

(March 31 2017 - Myanmar Times)

20 MARCH 2017

REFERENCES

March 1

Political Activist charged

with Sedition and public

incitement, denied bail

twice - Jakarta Post

‘Nga Pha’ sentenced to six

months imprisonment

under Section 66(d) -

Anadolu Agency

‘Nga Pha’ sentenced to six

months imprisonment

under Section 66(d) - 7

Day Daily/Burmese ‘Nga Pha’ sentenced to six

months imprisonment

under Section 66(d) -

Free Malaysia Today

Former Political Prisoner

Appointed as the Chief

Minister of Mon State -

Mizzima/Burmese

Former Political Prisoner

Appointed as the Chief

Minister of Mon State -

Eleven/Burmese

Privacy Bill Passed by the

Parliament, Critics

Skeptical of New Privacy

Legislation -

Eleven/Burmese

March 2

Mon State repairs

detention centres

following MNHRC

recommendations -

Burma News International

Former Political Prisoner

Appointed as the Chief

Minister of Mon State -

Irrawaddy

Former Political Prisoner

Appointed as the Chief

Minister of Mon State -

Eleven

Political Activist charged

with Sedition and

Incitement, Denied Bail

Twice -

Narinjara/Burmese

88 Generation Activists to

Form Political Party in

2018 - Mizzima/Burmese

March 3

88 Generation Activists to

Form Political Party in

2018 - Myanmar Times

88 Generation Activists to

Form Political Party in

2018 - Irrawaddy

88 Generation Activists to

Form Political Party in

2018 - Eleven Myanmar

Former Political Prisoners

Society Denounces

Threats to Constitutional

Reform - Eleven Myanmar

March 4

Despite Calls for Reform,

Prisoners Continue Hard

Labor in Shackles -

Mizzima

NLD Bawlakhe Township

Chairman Filed a Suit

under 66(d) against a Man

- Eleven/Burmese

March 5

Despite Calls for Reform,

Prisoners Continue Hard

Labor in Shackles -

Frontier Myanmar

March 6

MNHRC Finds no Human

Rights Violations in

Rangoon Prison System -

MNHRC/Burmese

March 7

Sagaing Labor Protesters

Sentenced Under Peaceful

Assembly Act - Irrawaddy

Government to Return

Land to Mandalay

Farmers - Eleven

Myanmar

Government to Return

Land to Mandalay

Farmers -

Eleven/Burmese

Sagaing Labor Protesters

Sentenced Under Peaceful

Assembly Act -

RFA/Burmese

Sagaing Labor Protesters

Sentenced Under Peaceful

Assembly Act -

Eleven/Burmese

Parliament to Oversee the

Judicial System to Curb

Corruption -

Eleven/Burmese

Parliament to Oversee the

Judicial System to Curb

21 MARCH 2017

Corruption -

Eleven/Burmese

Parliament to Oversee the

Judicial System to Curb

Corruption -

Eleven/Burmese

Additional Charge against

One of the Baptist Church

Officials from Kachin State

- Mizzima/Burmese

Three Social Activists from

Arakan State Sentenced to

15 Days Imprisonment or

to Pay Fine -

Mizzima/Burmese

March 8

Government to Return

Land to Mandalay

Farmers - Myanmar Times

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Irrawaddy

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - RFA

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - DVB

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Frontier Myanmar

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - DVB/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Eleven/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - RFA/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - VOA/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

Parliament to Oversee the

Judicial System to Curb

Corruption - Irrawaddy

Parliament to Oversee the

Judicial System to Curb

Corruption - Democratic

Voice of Burma

Sagaing Labor Protesters

Sentenced Under Peaceful

Assembly Act -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

Privacy Bill Passed by the

Parliament, Critics

Skeptical of New Privacy

Legislation -

Eleven/Burmese

March 9

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Myanmar Times

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Mizzima

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Irrawaddy

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - RFA/Burmese

Significant work towards

improvement in women’s

rights situation under NLD

- Irrawaddy

Ministry of Home Affairs

Maintains No Definition of

‘Political Prisoners’ and

‘Political Offences’ -

Eleven/Burmese

Privacy Bill Passed by the

Parliament, Critics

Skeptical of New Privacy

Legislation -

DVB/Burmese

March 10

Ministry of Home Affairs

Maintains that No

definition for Political

Prisoners and Political

Offences - Eleven

Myanmar

Section 66(d)

Abolishment Proposal

Suspended -

DVB/Burmese

Section 66(d)

Abolishment Proposal

Suspended -

RFA/Burmese

Privacy Bill Passed by the

Parliament, Critics

Skeptical of New Privacy

Legislation - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

March 11

Section 66(d) Abolishment

Proposal Suspended -

Eleven Myanmar

Section 66(d)

Abolishment Proposal

Suspended - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

March 12

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - DVB

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Frontier Myanmar

22 MARCH 2017

March 13

Section 66(d) Abolishment

Proposal Suspended -

Myanmar Times

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - RFA/Burmese

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - The

Voice/Burmese

March 14

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - Irrawaddy

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - DVB/Burmese

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Eleven/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - The Voice/Burmese

MNHRC Finds no Human

Rights Violations in

Rangoon Prison System -

Eleven Myanmar

TNLA Accused of Mass

Abduction in Shan State

Village - DVB

TNLA Accused of Mass

Abduction in Shan State

Village - DVB/Burmese

TNLA Accused of Mass

Abduction in Shan State

Village - The

Voice/Burmese

320 People Arrested by the

MNDAA - RFA/Burmese

320 People Arrested by the

MNDAA - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

SSPP/SSA Soldiers Appear

before the Muse Township

Court After Almost One-

Year Detention -

BNI/Burmese

March 15

TNLA Accused of Mass

Abduction in Shan State

Village - DVB

Rangoon Resident Files

Defamation Suit Against

Ma Ba Tha Member Kyaw

Myo Shwe - Myanmar

Times

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Irrawaddy

Three Social Activists from

Arakan State Sentenced to

15 Days Imprisonment or

to Pay Fine - BNI/Burmese

March 16

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Myanmar Times

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Frontier Myanmar

Political Activist charged

with Sedition and

Incitement, Denied Bail

Twice -

Narinjara/Burmese

March 17

88 Generation Activists to

Form Political Party in

2018 - Frontier Myanmar

March 20

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - BBC/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - RFA/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - The Voice/Burmese

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Mizzima/Burmese

1500 Prison Staff to be

appointed - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

March 21

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Irrawaddy

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Coconuts Yangon

23 MARCH 2017

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Irrawaddy

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - 7 Day

Daily/Burmese

Mother Sues Son for

Calling Her a ‘Prostitute’

on FB - Frontier Myanmar

Mother Sues Son for

Calling Her a ‘Prostitute’

on FB - Nation Multimedia

Mother Sues Son for

Calling Her a ‘Prostitute’

on FB - The

Voice/Burmese

Court Hearing of Three

Men Accused of Bombing

Moved to the Sittwe

District Court -

BNI/Burmese

March 22

Mother Sues Son for

Calling Her a ‘Prostitute’

on FB - Mizzima

Mother Sues Son for

Calling Her a ‘Prostitute’

on FB - DVB

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - Eleven Myanmar

March 23

FHI 360 Provides

Fellowships for Former

Political Prisoners -

Irrawaddy

FHI 360 Provides

Fellowships for Former

Political Prisoners -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

Legal Experts claim

Government’s claim for

judicial reforms to be

ineffective - Irrawaddy

March 24

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Radio Free

Asia

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - DVB/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - The

Voice/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - VOA/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

March 25

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Eleven

Myanmar

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Irrawaddy

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - RFA/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting -

Eleven/Burmese

March 26

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - RFA/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

March 27

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Myanmar

Times

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Eleven

Myanmar

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - BBC/Burmese

10 Villagers Injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - VOA/Burmese

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities - Radio

Free Asia

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities -

RFA/Burmese

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities -

Eleven/Burmese

March 28

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities - Mizzima

24 MARCH 2017

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities - Eleven

Myanmar

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities -

Irrawaddy/Burmese

50 Farmers in Roadblock

Protest of Letpadaung

Copper Mine Charged by

the Authorities - The

Voice/Burmese

March 29

Over 300 Farmers from

Mandalay to Get Land

Compensation -

Mizzima/Burmese

Over 300 Farmers from

Mandalay to Get Land

Compensation -

DVB/Burmese

Over 300 Farmers from

Mandalay to Get Land

Compensation -

Elevne/Burmese

March 30

Prominent Journalist Swe

Win Faces Defamation

Case - RFA

10 villagers injured in

Letpadaung Clash while

Protesting - Myanmar

Times

March 31

Over 300 Farmers from

Mandalay to Get Land

Compensation - Myanmar

Times

For more information:

Assistance Association for

Political Prisoners

Tate Naing (Secretary)

+66 (0) 812 878 751

Bo Kyi (Joint Secretary)

+95(0)942 530 8840