AAPP’s November Chronology 2019 and Current PP list

November in Numbers

• Sentenced: 38
• Arrests: 41
• Charged: 35
• Released: 13

Month in Review for November

In addition to the month in numbers, in November, Arakan Army (AA) arrested Wai Tin, Chin National Assembly Representative, Aung Kyaw Sein, Auck Taung Village Administrator, Maung San, Ten Household Administrator, and Sin Hone a.k.a  Thar Oo, school teacher.   

Freedom of Speech and Expression 

In November, Ye Yint Kyaw, the former member of All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), was arrested for exercising his Freedom of Expression. Others including Ko Kyaw Myo, ABFSU’s member, the activists Naung Naung, Htay Aung, Soe Zaw, four leaders of a Natural Garment Factory’s labour leaders, Ma Thandar Phyo, Ko Chit Nang Maung, Ko Pyaw Sone Aung, Ko Kyaw Myo Htike, and Organizer Ma Moe Sandar Myint from Action Labor Rights, were charged under Section 19 of Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act.   Other political activists and former captain Ko Nay Myo Zin, poet Ko Saw Wai, lawyer Kyi Myint , Ko Wai Yan Phyo Moe, a chairman of the student union in National University of Culture and Art (Yangon), and activist Soe Wai were charged under Article 505 of the Penal Code (a). Additionally, six Kareni youths were charged with Section 8 (f) of the Law on the Protection of Personal Freedom and Personal Security of Citizens, five young comedians were charged under Article 500 of the Penal Code, Zaw Win, Former Court of Appeal, and seven members of Peacock Generation Thangyat were charged under   were charged under Article 505 of the Penal Code (a). 

The freedom of expression act is one of the most fundamental rights that contributes to strengthening democracy. Nonetheless, the continued arrest, lawsuit, and penalties of activists, workers, and civilians are meant to silence the freedom of expression. Furthermore, Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act, the Law on the Protection of Personal Freedom and Personal Security of Citizens, Article 500 of the Penal Code, and Article 505 of the Penal Code (a) threaten the human rights of citizens. Instead of the government reviewing these requests by civilians and implementing their demands, the governments repressive their arrests, lawsuits, and penalties are damaging to the country. If these arrests continue, there will also be no positive progress in national reconciliation. Therefore, the government needs to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens to freedom of expression.    

Consequences of Conflict in Ethnic Areas

The human rights abuses that continue alongside the ongoing conflicts in Burma are spreading an atmosphere of fear in society. The human rights situation in Burma is significantly below international standards due to lack of taken against these violations, the failure to sign the international Code of Conduct, and the lack of implementation of treaties.

In November, fighting between the Burmese military and ethnic armed groups continued to rage in ethnic areas. In particular, the local people are facing severe consequences for the fighting in Rakhine State.Thirty-six Arakanese people from Mrauk-U Township, Myebon Township, Kyauktaw Township, Ann Township, Minbya Township in Arakan State, were arrested in November on suspicion of being members of the Arakan Army (AA). 14 of them were charged under Section 50 of the Anti-Terrorism Law (a),  (b) and (d) or 52 (a). Besides, Shwe Than, the owner of Shwe Nadi Speed Boat, and six crew members were charged under section 365 of the penal code in October. In September, the Buddisht monk, U Kawi daza, from O Htain Village, and Wai Soe Htun, O Htain Village Administrator, were charged under section 50 of Anti-Terrorism Law. Additionally, Thein Aung Myat, Yat Kita calender publisher, and four other civilians were sentenced to two year imprisonment under section 17 (1) of the Unlawful Association Act. 

Moreover, Thiha Khaing Soe, Arakan youth in Sein Sin Village, Paletwa Township, Chin State, and chin youth Khar Ludar, Maung La Yaung in Kanthar Htwetwa Ward and Hla Htun Chay (a.k.a) Nga Lone Chay in Mya Te Taung Village in Myebon Township, Arakan State and  Village Secretary in Mang Mai Mang Kwam in Hu Kheng village tract, Namhsan Township, northern Shan State, were taken, arrested and tortured by the military.  

The events above show how poor the human rights situation in Myanmar is. In 2011 and 2015, Geneva-based Universal Periodic Review (UPR) analysed the Human Rights practices of Burma. In both of those reviews, Burma committed to sign oppose the persecution of the law in order to protect those in any form of detention or imprisonment; the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCAT), and the Citizenship and Political Convention  (ICCPR), including major international treaties on human rights. 

However, since then Myanmar failed to follow through with its obligations. Therefore we continue to call on the government to amend or repeal the repressive laws as soon as possible, signing of international treaties, immediate action against perpetrators, and enacting a law that compensates all victims of abuse, including promoting human rights situation at earliest convenience. 

Land Issues 

Although the government established a Central Committee for the Review of Land Confiscation to accelerate the resolution of land issues, there are still numerous delays in addressing land issues. As a result, farmers and indigenous people are still demanding and fighting for the return of their confiscated land. The following are some of the demands for land issues during November.  

• Farmers held a press conference to pay compensation for their lands that have been confiscated to build Nga Thalaut City in Nyaung Oo Township, Mandalay Division.  
• Local farmers demanded the land confiscated by the army for Tachilek industrial zone 
• 985 local farmers have submitted a complaint to the Rangoon government for distributing tens of thousands of confiscated land acres to the original farmers. Under the junta, the lands  have been confiscated by top companies, and there is no farming on the land. 

When farmers loss of their farmlands, it negatively the whole country as Burma’s economy is based on agriculture. Therefore, to promote the interest of farmers and land sector, we encourage the government to take action as soon as possible for the land confiscation and disputes.  

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For more information:

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
Tate Naing (Secretary)                +95(0) 9428 023 828

Bo Kyi  (Joint Secretary)             + 95(0) 942530 8840

Download link for Month in Review MiR November

Download link for monthly Chronology Nov Chronology

Download link for remaining PP list 80 Remaining PP final list Updated On 30 Nov 19

Download link for facing trial list 553 Facing Trial final List (Updated on 30 November)

Download link for 66(D) list 66 (D) total list(new) Updated