Using The Rubber Article, Myanmar Military Regime Demands 10 Academics And 400 Students

University of Veterinary Science, Myanmar. (Facebook/@uvsyznmyanmar)

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military regime has opened a case against 10 academics at the University of Veterinary Science in Naypyitaw, on charges of participating in the civil disobedience movement (CDM).

The academics who were accused were Dr. Aung Aung, Dr. Kyaw Kyaw Moe, Dr. Saw Bawm, Dr. Hnin Yi Soe, Dr. Latt Latt Htun, Dr. Khin San Mu, Dr. Win Ohmar Kyaw, Dr. Soe Soe Wai, Dr. Moe Thida Tun and Dr. Hlaing Hlaing Myint.

The Myanmar police in Yezin, where the university is located, also filed charges against the student union chairman, Ko Ye Myint Myat Aung. They all face charges under Article 505 (a) of the Criminal Code, which the Myanmar military regime has amended to make into a 'rubber article'.

Ko Ye Myint Myat Aung said he was sued because the student union encouraged Myanmar government employees to join the CDM.

“What we have to do is continue our fight against dictators. I smiled at the lawsuit against me, ”said Ko Ye Myint Myat Aung, launching The Irrawaddy.

Apart from academics, the Myanmar military regime also detained hundreds of students who took part in the February 1 anti-coup demonstration. Of the approximately 770 students who were arrested, 547 of them are still being detained and among them are high school students.

Of these, 400 of them are student detainees, including student union leaders. This does not include the dozens of students who disappeared during the protests, the Association for Assistance for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the Yangon University Student Union (UYSU) said.

Recently the demonstration against the Myanmar military coup. (Twitter / @ HsuChiKo1)

U San Min from AAPP said anti-regime students had been charged under the 505 (a) KUHP and Article (25) of the Natural Disaster Management Law. Meanwhile some have been charged under the drug law, which carries up to five years in prison, after being accused of using drugs.

"Free student prisoners, because students do not attack the interests of the state. Capturing students destroys the country," he said.

Article 505 (a) of the Criminal Code and Article 22 of the Disaster Management Law, are two articles that are mostly imposed on those detained by the Myanmar military regime for holding anti-coup demonstrations.

Article 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law also carries a sentence of up to three years in prison, for anyone found violating the campaign guidelines and COVID-19 restrictions set by the country's health ministry.

Meanwhile, section 505 (a) criminalizes any attempt to disrupt or cause disobedience among military personnel or government employees, threatening up to three years in prison. This article is the result of amendments to a law by the military regime after the February 1 coup. This article has become a rubber article, imposed on many opponents of the Myanmar military regime.

As of Friday afternoon, at least 232 people have died and 2,258 others have been detained, arrested, charged or sentenced in response to the Myanmar military regime's anti-coup protests, according to the AAPP.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.