Activists fined over peace rallies
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Judiciary comes in for criticism over its discretionary sentencing of people charged under same section for same offence
Two members of the Kachin Peace Network have been fined 20,000 kyats (Bt600) each by courts in Sanchaung and Dagon townships here for demonstrating for peace in war-torn Kachin State.
“Under Section 18, Sanchaung Township Court and Dagon Township Court fined us [the activists] for holding the unauthorised demonstration to end the wars in Kachin State on the International Peace Day,” Maran Jaw Gun from the Kachin Peace Network told Eleven Media yesterday.
Under Section 18 of the Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law, Maran Jaw Gun and May Sabe Phyu were sentenced to one-month imprisonment or allowed to pay a fine of 10,000 kyats in the two courts.
“We protested on behalf of the people who are suffering in the refugee camps due to the conflict. Our demand is the demand of the refugees. We also sought permission from the authorities and since the authorities didn’t give us permission, we held the demonstration, which is our right as citizens.”
Last Thursday, many activists including student leader D Nyein Lin were given a one-month prison sentence for protesting against the authorities’ use of fire bombs against demonstrators in the Letpadaungtaung copper-mine project last November.
Political activists have criticised Myanmar’s judiciary for giving a one-month prison sentences to the six Letpadaungtaung activists, while the Kachin peace activists were given fines even though they were all charged under the same Section.
“According to the law, [the activists] were accused of protesting without
permission. There seems to be differences in the judiciary because different courts have given different sentences even though the activists were tried under the same Section. This may lead to doubt among the public about the judiciary,” said Myint Aung, a lawyer from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
AAPP member Aung Myo Kyaw said he believes the activists were given different sentences because the government wants to protect the interests of the Chinese company, Wenbao, which is jointly operating the copper mine project with the military-owned Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd.
He added that Myanmar’s judiciary is infamous for injustice and corruption and the government is still unable to control it.
Maran Jaw Gun and May Sabe Phyu from the Kachin Peace Network have been charged under Section 18 by the courts in six townships “Sanchaung, Tamwe, Mingala Taungnyunt, Pazundaung, and Dagon” for leading a march of around 1,000 demonstrators calling for peace in Kachin state on September 21, 2012.
Political activists, legal experts, and social organisations have been demanding that the government amend Section 18 after the six activists were given one month’s imprisonment last week.
Lower House MP Thura Aung Ko had earlier said that the parliament will review the proposal to amend Section 18.
