Summary: Criminalization of Peaceful Protest
Laws Restricting Use of the Internet
Criminal Defamation
Other Laws Used Against the Media
Laws Against "Insulting" Religion
Prosecutorial Practices Compound the Harm
Key Recommendations: To the President and the Newly Elected Government of Burma
Methodology
I. Background: 1988 Uprising and Repression
Cyclone Nargis and the Constitutional Referendum
Military Power and Role under the 2008 Constitution
Lack of Independence of the Judiciary
Reforms under President Thein Sein
New Parliamentary Elections and Reform
II. International and Domestic Legal Standards: Constitution of Burma
III. Laws Used to Criminalize Peaceful Expression: Law Relating to the Right of Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession
Penal Code Sections 141-147: Unlawful Assembly
Penal Code Section 505(b): Offenses Against Public Tranquility
Penal Code Sections 499-502 and 130B: Criminal Defamation
Telecommunications Act
Electronic Transactions Act
Official Secrets Act (India Act XIX, 1923)
Penal Code Section 124A: Sedition
News Media Law
Penal Code Sections 295A and 298: Offenses Relating to Religion
Contempt of Courts Law
Printing and Publishing Enterprise Law
IV. Other Laws that Restrict Freedom of Expression: Penal Code Section 504: "Insults" that Provoke a Breach of the Peace
Penal Code Sections 153A and 505(c): Hate Speech
Penal Code Section 503: Criminal Intimidation
Penal Code Section 509: Insults to Modesty
Computer Science Development Law
Television and Video Law and the Motion Picture Law
V. Recommendations: To the Government of Burma
To the Attorney General's Chambers
To the Director General of Police
To the Minister of Foreign Affairs
To the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission
To the UN Country Team and UN Resident Coordinator
To the International Community
Acknowledgments.