No decency in Myanmar

No decency in Myanmar

With its army about to be indicted for crimes against humanity, it is shocking that Myanmar's government continues to violate the rights it so very recently swore to uphold. Last week, with global eyes already on Nay Pyi Taw, the government threw more journalists in jail. Three men from the Eleven Media company are inside infamous Insein Prison on extremely flimsy charges amounting once again to essentially practising journalism while Burmese. The government of Aung San Suu Kyi once again is trying to defend the scandalous arrests as "law and order".

The three men in handcuffs are executive editors Kyaw Zaw Lin and Nayi Min and chief reporter Phyo Wai Win. On Monday, Oct 8, their newspaper -- the most popular in the country -- published an article dealing with funding of the Yangon city bus network. The buses and the entirely opaque new YBS transportation system are run by Phyo Min Thein. He is vital to the story, because he is both the chief minister of Yangon and a close confidant and protege of Ms Suu Kyi.

On the next evening, Tuesday, a mob of Yangon police raided the offices of Eleven Media. In addition to rifling the premises, they said they were seeking the three men. The next morning, Oct 10, all three reported to police. In short order, police officers read charges of "causing fear or alarm" and they were arrested, bound and transported to the Insein Prison.

Police said the charges originated with the Yangon city government, in other words Phyo Min Thein. He still has not spoken to other media about the case. The three newsmen were taken to court last Wednesday for a standard detention hearing. They are due to appear again in front of a judge on Friday. It is unlikely their case will move forward, or that they will be granted bail, as Myanmar justice generally grinds slowly and often cruelly to the accused.

At present, the trio face fines and jail sentences of up to two years. Legally, Phyo Min Thien must present evidence that the newsmen published their story on his bus company with the explicit purpose of creating "fear or alarm to the public". But their problem -- and the concern of decent people inside Myanmar and their friends abroad -- is that recent Myanmar justice has very conveniently ignored and sidestepped such legal stipulations.

Everyone concerned about Myanmar will instantly recognise the recent legal shanghaiing of two reporters into prison on what amounted to little more than trumped-up charges. Reuters newsmen Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were convicted and sentenced on Sept 3 to seven years in prison for supposed violations of state secrecy laws.

In fact, the law was written by British colonialists. And the "secrets" they disclosed were details of a massacre of Rohingya men by the tatmadaw, Myanmar's much derided armed forces. The International Criminal Court at The Hague is currently drawing up indictments against senior officers including tatmadaw commander Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing for that massacre and other "crimes against humanity".

Last week, an influential long-time supporter and admirer of Aung San Suu Kyi urged the public not to "pile on" the Myanmar leader. US Senate leader said she represents the sole hope for a democratic Myanmar to emerge from the mess of a 60-year military dictatorship. The problem is that Ms Suu Kyi supported the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, the jailing of the Reuters reporters and now, apparently, the anti-freedom move by her personal protege and rich businessman she allows to be governor of Yangon.

The descent of Myanmar over the past two years is certainly not all the fault of Ms Suu Kyi. There is a massive problem, however, that she not only refuses to revert to her old stance in favour of human rights but actively works against it.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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