A Chance to Fix in Time: Analysis of Freedom of Expression in Four Years Under the Current Government 5.2 NLD Issues Internal Instruction to Sue over Defamation Against Government Leaders NLD’s Magway State unit released an internal instruction within the party to make legal actions against those who defame State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Government and State and Region Governments on social media and web pages. U Thein Zaw, chairman of Magway State NLD unit defended that instruction was issued to prevent the dissemination of misinformation that persuades the local people in Magway to reduce respect for the government. The letter also stated that they would consult with the legal experts whether to respond with a lawsuit for offensive accusation to the government or not and members of CEC of NLD township unit would decide regarding the legal actions. 5.3 Blanket Ban on Protests in Particular Areas 5.3.1 11 Townships in Yangon Banned on Protest The Yangon Region Government issued a blanket ban on protests in 11 townships of Yangon on November 7, 2018. These townships covered by ban are Kyautada, Pabedan, Latha, Lanmadaw, Botahtaung, Bahan, San Chaung, Dagon, Alone, Mingala Taung Nyunt, and Pazundaung. Yangon Region Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Aung Soe Moe issued that ban with his sign on November 7, to avoid “public annoyance”, “anxiety” and “traffic jam” in those population-dense townships. Anyone who organises a protest just needs to notify the local township police stations 24 hours in advance according to the 2016 amendment of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law. NLD MPs and political activists criticised that Yangon Region Government intervened a union-level legislation with an official instruction and limited the areas of protests is hindering the right that the law rewards the people. Yangon Region Minister of Social Affairs U Naing Ngan Lin announced they issued the instruction for the sake of security for Pope Francis’s visit to Myanmar. However, the instruction is not withdrawn after the Pope’s visit and still used to oppress and prosecute the protests. 5.3.2 Kayah State Government released an order to limit some area not to conduct protestation Kayah State Government officially banned the peaceful assembly and peaceful procession in some parts of Loikaw township, capital of Kayah State, including State Government office, other main departments and important areas to avoid “disturbance in governmental department procedures”, “public annoyance”, and “unnecessary problems in peace process 44 Chapter (5): Deterring, Restricting, Orders, Instructions and Free Speech