Freedom of Expression Activist Organization 2019 Mid-year Report on Status of Freedom of Expression in Myanmar Other significant Cases Violating Freedom of Expression Internet Shutdown Since June 21, the internet was shut down in 9 townships in Rakhine and Chin States where armed conflicts between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) continue. Referencing Telecommunication Act (77), the Union Government authorised the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications to instruct the telecommunication operators in Myanmar to cease internet access in those townships. Restrictions and obstacles that whistleblowers face During her visit to Ma-U-Bin township of Irrawaddy Region, a farmer complained about land confiscation cases to the State Counsellor. In return, a local businessman who involved in the controversial land issues filed a complaint against the farmer under ‘Law protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizen’. A group of 11 individuals and six political parties sent a complaint letter over disputes of land issues to the Yangon Parliamentary committee in January. Later, a committee member, MP Daw Thandar Moe filed charges against 17 complainers under ‘Law protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizen’. A prisoner died during detention Mandalay police force arrested a group of over 50 villagers with several charges for the mass protest over a disputed cement factory in Aung Thapyay village, Mandalay Region. Among the detainees, Ko Htun Myint Win who was arrested together with two others on June 2 was found dead on June 5 in O-Bo prison, Mandalay. The family member witnessed evidence of extensive use of torture on his deceased body. Follow Up of the controversial General Aung San bronze statue. Since 2018, it has been disputed between the local and State government over a plan to install a bronze statue of General Aung San in Kayah State. The local population has staged protests several times, and in return, the State government filed charges against protest leaders applying ‘Law protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizen’ and ‘Penal Code’s Section 505 (b) and (c)’. After more than 3,000 people took a street for mass protests in a manner of resisting the planned bronze statue, an agreement was reached between the state authorities and protestors, and as a result, the State government dropped all charges. Not long after it, the dispute resurfaced again. This time, the State government filed charges against six youth leaders who issued a statement on the conduct of the State Minister. Page - 7