04:00 PM, 01 March 2021 News Briefing
The hundreds of people waiting in front of Yangon Insein Prison this morning for the release of their families and friends who have been brutally arrested during the anti-coup demonstrations[…]
Analysis Contributor Lead Story
Justice in Burma: Wounds on the wall
Veronica Collins argues that a museum run by former political prisoners showcases the lasting impact of state brutality on Burmese society.
Michael Kyaw Myint sentenced to 9 months for defamation
“It is evident that Michael Kyaw Myint used a telecommunications network to post libellous writings about the chief minister of Yangon.”
Censorship via Telecoms Law ‘defamation’ rises under NLD: report
Burma’s notorious online defamation law remains the tool of choice for powerful people in the country who seek to punish those who are trying to hold them accountable, and the amendment of the law in August has had “no discernible impact” on this, says a new report by the rights groups Free Expression Myanmar.
Rights watchers slam ban on protests in Yangon
Human rights monitors on Wednesday urged Burma to withdraw a ban on protests in its largest city, Yangon, amid fears that free speech is under pressure under the government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.
Burmese govt to monitor ‘misuse’ of Internet
Burma’s lower house of parliament today approved a bill granting the government power to oversee public misuse of the Internet.
NLD-led Parliament accused of legislative lethargy
Critics have accused the NLD-led government of over-promising and under-delivering on legislative reform.
Military drops remaining charges against The Voice Daily duo
The decision marks the end of a four-month ordeal that began when The Voice Daily duo were arrested for a satirical column lampooning Burma’s military.
Military drops cases against six journalists, including DVB duo
In a surprise Friday announcement, the Tatmadaw said that it will be dropping charges it had brought against six journalists, including a high-profile “unlawful association” case it had brought against two reporters from DVB and one from The Irrawaddy news outlet.
Burmese president approves changes to Telecommunications Act
But for many civil rights activists who had called for parliament to repeal the Telecommunications Act, lawmakers have failed to tackle the issue.
Burmese parliament passes minor changes but no repeal of Article 66(d)
A senior NLD party member said a majority of parliamentarians liked the protection against online criticism the law provided.
Lead Story Media News Opinion Suu Kyi
Opinion: Suu Kyi’s dilemma over a free press
Aung San Suu Kyi is treating the press in Burma poorly, and that may impede her efforts to democratise the conflict-wrought country.
The Voice chief editor released on bail
Following more than two months’ detention, The Voice Daily’s chief editor Kyaw Min Swe was released on a 10 million kyats ($7,350) bail by a Rangoon court on Friday morning, according to the defendant’s lawyer.
High-profile journalist detained at Rangoon airport
The prominent Burmese journalist Swe Win was arrested at Yangon International Airport on Sunday evening as he attempted to leave Burma, with authorities justifying his detention on the grounds that he faces trial on charges of defamation.
More legal trouble for The Voice duo over satirical article
A court in Rangoon this week added to the legal woes of the chief editor and a regular satire columnist for The Voice Daily newspaper, accepting a lawsuit brought against the pair under Burma’s News Media Law.
Journalists’ court hearing delayed again
The judge apparently has to attend a training workshop on 21 July and is therefore unable to be in court that day.
66(d) amendments on the table, but advocates call for repeal
A draft bill to amend the controversial article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law has been submitted to the Upper House.
DVB Debate Lead Story Media News Video
DVB Debate: Should MPs amend or repeal the telecoms law’s section 66(d)?
In this DVB Debate, our panelists trade views on the merits of the Telecommunication Law’s 66(d) defamation provision, and offer their advice to lawmakers weighing changes to the controversial legislation.
Suu Kyi says changes to telecoms law’s defamation clause under consideration
Burma is considering amendments to a law that human rights monitors say violates free speech and has been used to jail journalists and activists, leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday.
EU urges Burma to protect free speech after arrests of journalists
The European Union on Monday urged Burma to protect journalists from “intimidation, arrest or prosecution” after several cases of reporters running into trouble with the law, including three detained by the army last week.
Rangoon media rally in support of imprisoned journalists
The protesting journalists also launched a signature campaign, calling for the repeal of Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law.
Calls for answers grow as detained reporters’ fates remain unknown
Three journalists arrested in Shan State are likely to be handed over to police “soon,” a senior government official says, as questions mount as to why the men were detained and pressure grows on the military to reveal their whereabouts nearly 48 hours after they were taken into custody.
Defamation case against The Voice satirist dropped, bail denied for chief editor
The author of a satirical article that appeared in a March edition of The Voice Daily was released from police custody on Friday after a court dropped an online defamation charge that had been brought against him, though the newspaper’s editor-in-chief will still stand trial over the offending piece.
Court denies bail for The Voice duo facing defamation suit
A court in Rangoon denied bail to the The Voice Daily’s editor-in-chief and a satire columnist for the newspaper on Thursday, with the judge ruling that the defendants’ legal counsel had failed to provide the necessary medical documents to secure their release from police custody.
Arrest of The Voice pair heaps more scrutiny on 66(d) prosecutions
Media freedom advocates have lashed out at the latest 66(d) suit filed by the Tatmadaw against a satirical columnist.
259 prisoners freed in presidential amnesty ahead of peace summit
Nearly 260 prisoners were released in a presidential amnesty on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the Union Peace Conference being held in Burma’s capital Naypyidaw this week.
Military files defamation suit against The Voice chief editor, satirist
The Voice Daily’s editor-in-chief and the newspaper’s regular satire columnist are being sued by the military under article 66(d) of Burma’s Telecommunications Law, a defamation clause, over an article published in March.
Attorney general weighs in on internet defamation law
Many observers say Article 66(d) has been used summarily to incarcerate dozens of government or military critics.
NLD hammered for lack of progress on freedom of expression
Rights groups on Tuesday released a joint report giving the ruling National League for Democracy government abysmal marks on matters related to press freedom and free expression over the party’s first year in power.
Despite tough 2016, Burma rises in global media freedom rankings
Burma rose 12 places in the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, amid larger global trends over the past year indicating “that media freedom is under threat now more than ever,” according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has compiled the index annually since 2002.
