Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (FOPA) 2025, February
Summary
According to the media monitored by Athan, the public held 144 non-violent protests in various ways by the end of February 2025, and the Myanmar military used violence to suppress peaceful protests twice. The Sagaing Region had the highest number among the public assemblies, with 105. Athan believes this is due to the substantial control of the relevant areas by the people’s forces.
Violent Incident (1)
Freelance photojournalist Ko Zaw Lin Htut @ Ko Po Thar, co-founder of Former Ta-Ka-Tha Students Union, Ko Aung Min Khing @ Me Gyi, leader of the Youth Strike Committee, Ma Mya Myintzu, and former political prisoner Ma Hnin Ei Khing were arrested by the military in January. On the 31st, they were sentenced to three years under Section 505-A. According to the findings, the four were unjustly arrested on September 19th last year for participating in non-violent activities against the military junta. According to information collected by Athan, freelance photojournalist Ko Zaw Lin Htut @ Ko Po Thar was arrested during the Panpin Gyi protest on December 19th, 2021, and was released on a pardon by the Myanmar military on May 3rd, 2023. Now, he has been arrested and imprisoned for the second time.
Violent Incident (2)
Ko Yan Naung Kyi Win and Ko Thet Htoo Zaw, members of the Shwe Pyi Thar Strike Committee who participated in the Yangon protest movement to mark the (76th) International Human Rights Day on December 10th, 2024, were arrested and taken from Insein Prison to a military court on February 6th and sentenced to three years in prison under Section 505-A of the Penal Code. Of the two young men who were brutally sentenced to prison, Ko Yan Naung Kyi Win was first arrested and imprisoned under Section 19(f) of the Arms Act in April 2021 and is now being imprisoned for the second time.