Political suppression remains: AAPP
Play
Journalists as well as political and human right activists are still facing suppression in Myanmar, risking the country criticisms from international community, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
In its latest update on political events, AAPP recorded the charges against 17 activities in November and seven of them were imprisoned. This brought the total number of “political prisoners” still behind bars to 72 and the number of activists facing trials to 136.
Out of the 17 activists charged in November, 12 were sued under Section 18 of Peaceful Assembly and Procession Law. Under this law, those staging protests without official permissions are subjected to arrests. Among them are six students who were arrested on November 29 for staging the protest against the National Education Bill.
“Such act of the authorities is showing a sign of rejecting further possible protests by the government,” AAPP said in the report.
The AAPP said that the government and the authorities would not change their attitude in an attempt to oppress opponent activists in the country.
It also insisted that 27 prisoners are now serving time for political reasons, though the government said they are in prison for other crimes. AAPP noted that these were unfair arrests.
Without amendments to rules and regulations regarding political activities, Myanmar is bound to face criticism from the international community, AAPP noted.
