Violation of Free Speech in January 2025
In January 2025, the Myanmar military-controlled newspaper Myanma Alin reported the arrest of at least four ordinary citizens and the imprisonment of one retired army major for exercising their freedom of speech. The individuals were charged with “inciting and spreading propaganda on social media to undermine national stability” for sharing information on Telegram and Facebook. While the newspaper frequently mentions the locations and dates of these arrests, it omits details about the legal sections under which the individuals were tried and the specifics of the legal proceedings. The military junta’s ongoing practice of monitoring and suppressing those who seek and share information, as well as threatening to curtail freedom of expression, remains unchanged.
Highlight – Dr. Nay Soe Maung was sentenced to three years in prison
Dr. Nay Soe Maung, the son-in-law of former military commander Than Shwe, was arrested and detained at the Pyay Gyi Takun Police Station on October 23, 2024. His arrest followed a social media post in which he expressed his grief over the death of Mandalay Region Chief Minister U Zaw Myint Maung on October 7. He also mentioned paying tribute by placing a “We Free” shirt in a moat on October 9.
After his arrest, a case was opened against him under Sections 505A and 124-A of the Penal Code, Section 52(a) of the Counter Terrorism Law, and Section 33(a) of the Electronic Transaction Act. He was subsequently sentenced to the maximum penalty of three years in prison under Section 505A by Mandalay’s Oh-bo Prison Court. Nay Soe Maung, a member of the Myanmar military community, was exercising his right to freedom of expression; thus, his arrest and detention raise questions about legality and inconsistency from a human rights perspective.