Myanmar: UN expert dismayed by jail terms for Kachin activists

GENEVA (11 December 2018) – A UN human rights expert has expressed her dismay at the imprisonment of three ethnic Kachin activists for allegedly criticizing the Myanmar military during peaceful demonstrations in April.

“It is wholly unacceptable that Lum Zawng, Nang Pu and Zau Jet have been sent to jail merely for making statements about the military’s actions,” said the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee. “I am seriously concerned by the continual shrinking of the democratic space in Myanmar, and the culture of fear that now exists.”

In April 2018, thousands of civilians fled fighting between the military and ethnic armed groups, prompting demonstrations in Kachin and other locations in Myanmar.

At a news conference on 30 April, Lum Zawng is said to have called for the evacuation of civilians trapped in conflict areas. At demonstrations in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina on 30 April and 1 May, Nang Pu allegedly said that the military had prevented civilians from leaving conflict areas and that some had been killed. Zau Jet reportedly said the military had displaced 2,000 civilians from Hpakant Township and attacked civilians.

On 8 May 2018, Lum Zawng, Nang Pu and Zau Jet were charged with defamation under section 500 of the Myanmar Penal Code. Last Friday they were convicted and sentenced to six months in prison and fined K500,000 each.

“This is yet another case in which the Myanmar Government is failing to uphold human rights and democratic principles, and is using an archaic law that is contrary to accepted human rights principles as a weapon against human rights defenders,” Lee said.

Following Friday’s result, Kachin activists Brang Mai, Seng Hkum Awng and Sut Seng Htoi conducted a protest against the convictions, and were arrested for not seeking permission for the protest.

“I call on the Myanmar authorities to amend unjust laws including section 500 of the Penal Code, to nullify the convictions and release all three activists without delay, and stop arresting people for exercising their right of peaceful protest.”

ENDS

Yanghee Lee (Republic of Korea) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in 2014 as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. She is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Lee served as member and chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2003-2011). She is currently a professor at Sungkyunwan University, Seoul, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea. Ms. Lee is the founding President of International Child Rights Center.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

UN Human Rights, country page: Myanmar

For more information and media requests please contact:
Ms Georgia Drake (+41-22928 9780 / gdrake@ohchr.org).

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org) 

This year is the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org