Two charged over unauthorized public meeting but granted bail

By Khaing Min 26 Mar 2020

Khaing Min | DMG

March 26, Kyaukphyu

Ko Tun Kyi and Ko Chan Maung, who were charged under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly Law for organizing a public meeting about the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), were released on bail on March 26 after being questioned, according to Kyaukphyu SEZ Watch Group. 

Ko Tun Kyi told DMG that Kyaukphyu Township administrator U Soe Moe Kyaw submitted a complaint against them to police on March 23 for arranging a public meeting without authorities’ permission.

He added that the court granted the pair bail at K3 million (US$2,143) per person.

“We didn’t know that we needed to have a permit for a meeting,” he said. “That’s why we just did it as normal. We had done meetings like this during the previous government. So we just did like that at this time under the current government. But we are being charged now.”

Opening a case like this represented a restriction on the activities of civil society organisations, Ko Tun Kyi said.

“When village-level meetings are being restricted, I think that it could do a lot of damage for future activities. This is a restriction,” he added.

 The public meeting was held on March 20 at Kulabar village in Kyaukphyu Township and was attended by around 500 people, including two lawmakers. 

At the meeting, demands were put forward intended to ensure that local populations are not negatively affected by the SEZ project, including recognizing existing land-sharing custom according to law; meeting with locals to reach an agreement before starting to build the SEZ; creating job opportunities for fishermen whose work has been affected by construction of the deep-sea port; and examining trade and registration issues related to the ownership of tidal mangrove forests claimed by locals.

A consortium led by the Chinese firm CITIC will hold a majority stake in the Kyaukphyu development. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Myanmar on January 17 and 18, and signed concession and shareholders’ agreements for the coastal SEZ and deep-sea port.