AGAIN??!!
Yes, another person has been arrested and charged for a Facebook post deemed defamatory to one of Myanmar’s senior leaders.
This time it’s Aung San Suu Kyi, making the defendant, 31-year-old Zaw Zaw from North Dagon township, at least the fifth person to be accused of defaming Myanmar’s de facto leader since late last year.
Although the cases have normally been limited to internet posts, just last week, two men were charged with defamation after they were allegedly overheard drunkenly cursing Suu Kyi.
Zaw Zaw, also known as Ngaphar, was arrested at his home on Monday, according to Eleven Media, and charged under Article 66d of the Telecommunications Act, which deals with defamatory statements made online and can result in up to three years imprisonment.
The report did not explain the content of the post in question, simply describing it as containing text and photos.
Before Suu Kyi’s party came to power in elections last year, these types of cases usually involved the former ruling government.
Not any more.
Last month a Karen man named Aung Win Hlaing, who also goes by Anyar Thar, was convicted on September 23 under the same article – 66d – that was applied to several cases last year.
According to 7Day, which reported the news, the Myawaddy police say Aung Win Hlaing was upset about a presidential order to remove something called a township support committee, of which he was a member.
In anger, he allegedly referred to President Htin Kyaw on his Facebook page as “the idiot president” and said he was “fucking crazy.”
