UNION OF MYANMAR：
ACTIVIST RELEASED AFTER SERVING SENTENCE

A 24-year-old woman in Myanmar has been detained in connection with a Facebook post mocking the army. She is a prisoner of conscience, who must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Chaw Sandi Tun was arrested on 12 October in Yangon for a post she shared on Facebook. The message pointed out that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was wearing clothes of a colour similar to those of the army, and in particular Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Her comment read: "If you love her so much, put a piece of her longyi [sarong] on your head". In Myanmar’s conservative and patriarchal society, the idea of a man wearing a women’s clothes on his head is traditionally deemed to be offensive.

It is still unclear precisely what law she is being held under. NGO and media reports claim that she is being investigated under Section 34(d) of Myanmar’s 2004 Electronic Transactions Law, amended in 2014, which carries a fine of between five and ten million kyats (US$3,400 – 7,800), or up to three years in prison, if she is unable or refuses to pay. However sources close to her – as well as a police official from the Maubin Township Police Station – have told Amnesty International that she is being investigated under Article 66(d) of Myanmar’s 2013 Telecommunications Act, which carries a maximum three years in prison. According to credible sources, on 14 October police also began investigating her for defamation, which can be punished with up to two years’ imprisonment under Article 500 of Myanmar’s Penal Code.

Following her arrest, Chaw Sandi Tun was transferred to Maubin prison, in Ayeyarwady Region, where she is currently detained. According to credible sources, she has not yet had access to a lawyer. Her next court appearance will be on 27 October.

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UA: 228/15 Index: ASA 16/2669/2015 Issue Date: 15 October 2015

A 24-year-old woman in Myanmar has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in connection with a Facebook post mocking the army. She is a prisoner of conscience, who must be released immediately and unconditionally.

On 28 December 2015, Chaw Sandi Tun, also known as Chit Tha Mee, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by the Maubin Township Court, in Ayeyarwady Region, in the southern part of the country. She was sentenced under Article 66(d) of Myanmar’s 2013 Telecommunications Act, which provides for up to three years’ imprisonment for “extorting, coercing, restraining wrongfully, defaming, disturbing, causing undue influence or threatening any person by using any Telecommunications Network”. Chaw Sandi Tun had also faced an additional defamation charge under Article 500 of Myanmar’s Penal Code, however this charge was dropped by the court.

Chaw Sandi Tun was arrested on 12 October for a post she shared on Facebook, pointing out that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was wearing clothes of a colour similar to those of the army, and in particular Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Her comment read: "If you love her [Aung San Suu Kyi] so much, put a piece of her longyi [sarong] on your head". In Myanmar’s patriarchal society, the idea of a man wearing a women’s clothes on his head is traditionally deemed to be offensive. She was arrested in Yangon, Myanmar’s main city, and transferred to Maubin prison in Ayeyarwady Region, where she remains behind bars.

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Further information on UA: 228/15 Index: ASA 16/3134/2016 Issue Date: 4 January 2016

Activist Chaw Sandi Tun has been released on 30 March after serving her 6 months sentence. She was imprisoned for a Facebook post mocking the Myanmar army.

Chaw Sandi Tun, also known as Chit Tha Mee, was released from Maubin prison in Ayeyarwady Region on 30 March. She has served six months in prison for a Facebook post mocking Myanmar Army Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. She was arrested in Yangon on 12 October 2015 and sentenced on 28 December under Article 66(d) of Myanmar’s 2013 Telecommunications Act, which provides for up to three years’ imprisonment for “extorting, coercing, restraining wrongfully, defaming, disturbing, causing undue influence or threatening any person by using any Telecommunications Network”.

Chaw Sandi Tun should have never been imprisoned in the first place. Amnesty International is continuing to campaign for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Myanmar.

Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.