Junta enacts Organization Registration Law, further restricting civil society and pro-democracy movement

By DMG 03 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
3 November 2022, Sittwe 

Myanmar’s military regime has enacted the Organization Registration Law, which in the view of civil society organisations, activists and politicians is intended to restrict the operations of various organisations and associations, and contain the popular revolt against the junta. 

The regime enacted the law on October 28, with the legislation authorising it to dissolve organisations, confiscate their movable and immovable property, and imprison those who run afoul of its provisions, among other measures critics say will further stifle civil society. 

The law prohibits anyone who does not have a citizenship ID from forming or operating an organisation. Violators face a punishment of up to three years in prison or a fine of 1 million kyats. 

Article 38 of the law prohibits organisations from supporting or otherwise having direct or indirect links to groups and individuals that the regime has labelled terrorists or are actively opposing the regime, as well as unlawful associations and their members. 

The broadly defined Article 39 is considered even more problematic, as it prohibits any act deemed to harm, either directly or indirectly, the sovereignty of the country, rule of law, national security, and national solidarity. 

Violators of some of the provisions are subject to up to five years in prison and/or a fine of 5 million kyats. The law empowers the military government to dissolve organisations and confiscate their property in certain instances. 

“The law will seriously affect individuals and organisations working for the cause of democracy. Organisations including charities, religious organisations, business organisations and student unions have the power to bring down the pillars of the military dictatorship. The regime has enacted this law to contain those organisations,” said a member of the Arakan Students Union. 

By enacting the law, the regime intends to cut off material support for its opponents, said former Lower House lawmaker U Pe Than. 

“The regime is enacting laws as it pleases while there is no legislature, and no checks or balances. They are enacting laws to protect their interests. It is not strange,” he said. 

The law also carries a two-year prison sentence or a fine of 500,000 kyats for organisations that fail to renew their licences after expiry, as well as those who join or support unlicensed organisations. The law also applies to international nongovernmental organisations.