The freedom by which the media can investigate, access, and publish information, particularly that which is critical, is one of the best ways to measure the level of democracy in a country. Journalists know best how much freedom the media has, and can compare their
On 18-19 January 2018, 130 participants attended the second edition of Myanmar Digital Rights Forum in Yangon to discuss the future of Myanmar’s Internet. Participants included representatives from civil society, government & parliament, the media, academia and private sector (local as well as global companies
On 18 January, 130 participants attended the second Myanmar Digital Rights Forum in Yangon hosted and co-organised by Phandeeyar together with MIDO, Free Expression Myanmar, MCRB, and Engage-Media, with support from the Government of Sweden. Over half of participants came from civil society organisations
Over the past two years, Article 66(d) has been the tool of choice for those in positions of power who want to punish those who are trying to hold them accountable. The government’s amendment of 66(d) in August 2017 has had no discernible impact on
FEM’s analysis of the government’s recent reform of the Telecommunications Act, including Article 66(d), has been published in Frontier Myanmar: The 66(d) amendment: tinkering at the edges On August 29, President U Htin Kyaw signed into law long-awaited amendments to the 2013 Telecommunications Law that
FEM welcomes the military’s withdrawal today of criminal complaints against eight journalists, journalist sources and human rights defenders. The criminal provisions in the Penal Code, Telecommunications Law, and Unlawful Association Law, used to charge the eight people are not acceptable under international standards on the
As lawyers and legal advocates working on cases relating to the media, internet and freedom of expression in Myanmar, Free Expression Myanmar (FEM), Myanmar Media Legal Network (MMLN), Hygienic Legal Clinic call on Members of Parliament and the Parliamentary Bill Committees to use the opportunity
Joint statement by 61 Myanmar and international human rights organizationsConcerned by reports that the Myanmar authorities will retain the criminal defamation provision of Section 66(d) during a review of the Telecommunications Law, 61 national and international human rights organizations are urging the Myanmar authorities, and
A joint statement by the Coalition for Telecommunications Law Reform consisting of 22 Myanmar human rights organisations calling for the repeal of Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law. 66(d) defines defamation online as a crime and is used to arrest and imprison members of the
A UN letter sent in October 2015 to the Myanmar government protesting illegitimate criminal charges brought against two Facebook users, has finally been published. The letter (MMR9/2015) raised serious concerns about the cases of these Facebook users: Chaw Sandi Tun Patrick Khum Jaa Lee The