A Glance into Myanmar’s Suffering – where is our right to freedom of assembly?

Description: 

"Executive Summary: Anti-junta protests constitute 99 % of mass protests, with some socioeconomic protests including protests organized by thousands of garment laborers in the compounds of the Zaykabar company’s factory, strikes of Food Panda riders, PMG bottle refinery factory workers’ strikes calling for the increase of bonus and riots-like pro-military rallies. Following the burning of civilian homes, markets, and public property near flash mobs, the military junta has accelerated its tactics to divide the public and strike organisers. In total, military and private vehicles were rammed into peaceful protests and struck 19 times, including eight times in Mandalay Region, five times in Yangon Region, three times in Sagaing Region, and once in each of Shan State, Kachin State, and Tanintharyi State. Prison strikes include hunger strikes against the junta, prisoner strikes calling for their rights in prisons and strikes showing solidarity with the oppressed outside. Inmate protesters were beaten, kept in solitary confinement, denied access to letters and family, restricted in security, and tortured to death. In many cases, the charges against the detained protesters were replaced with more severe offenses. Demonstrators who have been arrested face criminal prosecution under the Penal Code or the Counter-Terrorism Act rather than under the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, which is less intense. The lawyers defending and providing legal assistance to the detained protesters, politicians, and activists were also jailed. A number of young female lawyers providing legal assistance to the detainees have been sexually harassed by both junta forces and police. Despite the violent crackdowns and oppression, anti-coup flash mobs have continued to persist in major cities with peaceful protests such as the main strike of Kalay township, Yinmabin Shwenwethway strike, the “Our Village Searches No Savior” strike in Yinmabin and multi-village strike of eastern Yinmabin and northern Salingyi Sagaing Region..."

Source/publisher: 

Athan - Freedom of Expression Activist Organization

Date of Publication: 

2022-10-23

Date of entry: 

2022-10-23

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar

Language: 

English

Local URL: 

Format: 

pdf

Size: 

11.86 MB (Original version) - 29 pages

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good