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South China Morning Post, 31st January 2013
Myanmar's government has abolished a ban on public gatherings of more than five people that was ordered in 1988 on the day a military junta took power after crushing nationwide pro-democracy protests.
The state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper reported that Order No 2/88 was abolished as it was contrary to the constitution, which guarantees basic rights such as freedom of expression.
The order had been applied selectively to crush dissent against the military regimes that held power until the reformist government of President Thein Sein took office in 2011. His administration has instituted political liberalisation, including lifting strict censorship.
The junta used many catch-all or vaguely defined orders and laws as a means of suppressing dissent, and courts generally handed out stiff sentences, jailing thousands of political prisoners.
Most have been freed under amnesties promulgated by Thein Sein.
In December 2011, a "Peaceful Assembly Law" was implemented specifically allowing public protests. However, permission must be obtained in advance, without which organisers are subject to penalties including prison terms. Several people have been arrested under the statute.
Exercise of the new-won freedoms is sometimes testing the patience of the authorities.
A defence ministry statement published in state media on Tuesday blamed unspecified embassies, organisations and media of releasing news and announcements that could cause misunderstanding of the military and the government in connection with fighting against guerillas of the Kachin ethnic minority in the north.
The statement, carried in Myanma Ahlin, said the embassies and media had made one-sided reports of the army's activities that failed to mention destructive acts carried out by the Kachin Independence Army, and its attacks on government convoys carrying food supplies to bases.
It did not mention any specific organisation, but the foreign ministry last week issued a statement rejecting US embassy comments of concern over government military activities.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1139622/myanmar-abolishes-ban-public-gatherings
In the meantime, on a Little Red Dot, which has supposedly reached Swiss standard of living, they have passed a law that one person can be an illegal assembly. 60% of the voters on that island don't seem to think that there is any problem with such a ridiculous law. Either these people are zombies or that tropical island must be a paradise like one of those in the South Pacific where the population is sparse and islanders can spend most of their time surfing, fishing and dancing on the beach covered only with palm leaves.
Harry Belafonte's voice is superb, I recommend you listen to this song on your iPod while cramped like a sardine on your daily commute together with the hundreds of thousands of "talents" that your Government has seen fit to import. It seems hell-bent on importing more, with or without your consent.
[video=youtube;FFjGsYvB8oc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjGsYvB8oc[/video]
Myanmar's government has abolished a ban on public gatherings of more than five people that was ordered in 1988 on the day a military junta took power after crushing nationwide pro-democracy protests.
The state-run Myanma Ahlin newspaper reported that Order No 2/88 was abolished as it was contrary to the constitution, which guarantees basic rights such as freedom of expression.
The order had been applied selectively to crush dissent against the military regimes that held power until the reformist government of President Thein Sein took office in 2011. His administration has instituted political liberalisation, including lifting strict censorship.
The junta used many catch-all or vaguely defined orders and laws as a means of suppressing dissent, and courts generally handed out stiff sentences, jailing thousands of political prisoners.
Most have been freed under amnesties promulgated by Thein Sein.
In December 2011, a "Peaceful Assembly Law" was implemented specifically allowing public protests. However, permission must be obtained in advance, without which organisers are subject to penalties including prison terms. Several people have been arrested under the statute.
Exercise of the new-won freedoms is sometimes testing the patience of the authorities.
A defence ministry statement published in state media on Tuesday blamed unspecified embassies, organisations and media of releasing news and announcements that could cause misunderstanding of the military and the government in connection with fighting against guerillas of the Kachin ethnic minority in the north.
The statement, carried in Myanma Ahlin, said the embassies and media had made one-sided reports of the army's activities that failed to mention destructive acts carried out by the Kachin Independence Army, and its attacks on government convoys carrying food supplies to bases.
It did not mention any specific organisation, but the foreign ministry last week issued a statement rejecting US embassy comments of concern over government military activities.
http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1139622/myanmar-abolishes-ban-public-gatherings
In the meantime, on a Little Red Dot, which has supposedly reached Swiss standard of living, they have passed a law that one person can be an illegal assembly. 60% of the voters on that island don't seem to think that there is any problem with such a ridiculous law. Either these people are zombies or that tropical island must be a paradise like one of those in the South Pacific where the population is sparse and islanders can spend most of their time surfing, fishing and dancing on the beach covered only with palm leaves.
Harry Belafonte's voice is superb, I recommend you listen to this song on your iPod while cramped like a sardine on your daily commute together with the hundreds of thousands of "talents" that your Government has seen fit to import. It seems hell-bent on importing more, with or without your consent.
[video=youtube;FFjGsYvB8oc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFjGsYvB8oc[/video]
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