6/13/22, 12:27 PM Myanmar: Human Rights Council must hold the line on freedom of expression, rights violations - ARTICLE 19 In recent years, Myanmar authorities have arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned journalists, human rights defenders, peaceful protestors and others exposing human rights violations or speaking out against government policies. Reuters reporters Wa (https://www.article19.org) Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo (https://www.article19.org/resources/myanmar-yangon-courtupholds-conviction-of-reuters-journalists/), former child soldier Aung Ko Htwe (https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/8802/2018/en/), and Kachin activists Zau Jat, Lum Zawng, and Nang Pu (https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/08/myanmar-quashconviction-kachin-activists) are among many who have been convicted under the Official Secrets Act, Penal Code and other repressive legislation in the past year, while others continue to face lengthy trials because of their exercise of the right to freedom of expression. Authorities have used the Unlawful Associations Act to prosecute journalists and others who contact ethnic armed organisations and section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law to target critics expressing their opinions online. Impunity for attacks on journalists, human rights defenders and activists remains a major concern. Despite the February 2019 conviction of two individuals for the murder of prominent lawyer U Ko Ni, the investigation into his killing was deeply flawed and the trial was beset by procedural irregularities (https://www.icj.org/myanmar-icj-marks-2nd-year-anniversary-ofthe-killing-of-lawyer-u-ko-ni/). No progress has been made in ensuring justice for the killings of journalists Ko Par Gyi in 2014 and Soe Moe Tun in 2016, and rights activist Naw Chit Pandaing in 2016. Myanmar authorities have frequently applied the vague and broad restrictions contained in the 2012 Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act and the Penal Code to restrict the right to peaceful assembly. These restrictive provisions have been used to prevent peaceful assemblies from being organised, and authorities have sought to suppress protests through the use of mass arrests and the disproportionate and unlawful use of force against protesters, including at a protest in Loikaw in February 2019 This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you (https://www.article19.org/resources/myanmar-end-crackdown- on-protesters-in-kayah-state/). can opt-out ifProposed you wish. amendments Cookie settings to the ACCEPT Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Act that were passed by Privacy and Cookie Policy (https://www.article19.org/privacy-policy/) https://www.article19.org/resources/myanmar-human-rights-council-must-hold-the-line-on-freedom-of-expression-rights-violations/ 2/4