Amendment Of Law, Myanmar Military Increases Punishment For Opponents Of Regime

Myanmar military anti-coup demonstration. (Wikimedia Commons/Ninjastrikers)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing signed an amendment to the Counterterrorism Act on Monday, introducing tougher penalties for supporting anti-regime activities.

Under the amendment, prison terms were increased from three to seven years for "acts of coercion, persuasion, propaganda and recruitment of any person to participate in any terrorist group or terrorist activity". posed a threat to media reports supporting the Government of National Unity (NUG) and the People's Defense Force (PDF), for allowing the military junta to sue the media under the pretext of false propaganda.

They also said that the different nature of the Counterterrorism Law made it difficult for defendants to prove their innocence. In other criminal cases, the prosecution is responsible for proving the accused guilty. But under the Counterterrorism Act, defendants must prove their innocence.

In May, the Myanmar military regime branded the NUG, its parliamentary committee and their branch of the civil defense force as a "terrorist group" for alleged acts of incitement against the junta.

Meanwhile, the NUG designated the military and its affiliated organizations as terrorist groups on June 7 for carrying out acts of terrorism against innocent civilians, creating public fear for political motives to dominate the country.

The signing of this amendment is inseparable from the appointment of Min Aung Hlaing as prime minister of Myanmar's interim government, which was formed on Sunday, August 1. Together with his deputy who is also Senior Deputy General Soe Win, Min Aung Hlaing prepared a number of changes.

After being appointed prime minister, Min Aung Hlaing blamed terrorists who opposed his rule for the country's woes, linked to protests that turned into anarchy and then armed conflict.

"Protests carried out across the country after February 1 turned into anarchism and then armed conflict. Innocent people were killed in a shock. Why are they killing people? Why are they attacking people who live peacefully? We can't accept it, " he stressed, calling the response carried out in accordance with international norms, as quoted by Myanmar Now August 1st.

To note, a total of 945 people, including children, were killed between February and August 2 by the Myanmar military regime, with 5,474 people detained and arrest warrants issued for 1,964 people, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP).

The Myanmar Coup. VOI editors continue to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continued to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.