• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: Three Activists Face Prison for Peaceful Rally (Myanmar: UA 13.20)

February 18, 2020

Three activists are facing prison sentences for giving speeches criticizing the military and calling for constitutional reform at a peaceful rally in April 2019. If convicted, they face up to two years in prison. Two of the men are on bail, while one is already serving one year in prison and facing further charges for speaking at other peaceful rallies. The Myanmar authorities should release him immediately and unconditionally, quash his conviction, and drop all remaining charges against the three activists.

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Lt. Gen. Soe Htut Minister of Home Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Office No. 10, Nay Pyi Taw Republic of the Union of Myanmar Fax: +95 67 412439 Email: [email protected]
Ambassador U Aung Lynn Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar 2300 S St. NW, Washington DC 20008 Phone: 202 332 3344 | 4350 Fax: 202 332 4351 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Contact form: https://goo.gl/5eMa54 Salutation: Dear Ambassador
Dear Minister, I am writing to express my concern about the prosecution of lawyer Kyee Myint, poet Saw Wai and former military captain Nay Myo Zin who are facing charges in connection with their peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression and calling for constitutional reforms. Amnesty International believes the prosecution of the activists to be politically motivated, and I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Nay Myo Zin and drop all charges against the three men. The Kawthaung Township Court began proceedings on 20 January 2020 against the three activists after a member of the Myanmar military filed a complaint against them for speeches criticizing the military and calling for constitutional reforms at a rally in Kawthaung in April 2019. Kyee Myint, Saw Wai, and Nay Myo Zin are charged with “statements conducing public mischief” under Section 505(a) of Myanmar’s Penal Code. If convicted, they each face up to two years in prison While I am pleased that Kyee Myint and Saw Wai have been granted bail, the fact remains that none of the three men should be facing prosecution in the first place. I am concerned that Nay Myo Zin remains in detention in Kawthaung prison, where he is serving a one-year prison sentence for another speech given at peaceful rally in Yangon Region in April. Finally, I remain concerned by the ongoing use of repressive laws, including Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, to arrest, prosecute, and imprison peaceful activists and human rights defenders in Myanmar. These laws arbitrarily and unlawfully restrict the right to freedom of expression. I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Nay Myo Zin, as he is being detained solely for peacefully exercising his right of freedom of expression; drop all charges against Kyee Myint, Saw Wai, and Nay Myo Zin; review and repeal or amend laws that unlawfully restrict the right to freedom of expression, including Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, to bring them in line with international human rights standards. Yours sincerely, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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