Thursday, April 29, 2021

Myanmar's military courts

Myanmar's military junta has put in place some shocking rules for areas of unrest in Yangon and Mandalay. According to this account:

Twenty-three criminal offenses will be tried before military tribunals. These include "high treason," sedition, violating media laws and spreading news the military deems "false."

Convictions cannot be appealed and can result in the death penalty or "unlimited years" of imprisonment with hard labor. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing -- who leads the junta, formally known as State Administration Council -- gives the final go-ahead for death sentences. He and the Yangon commander have the power to reverse decisions and reduce sentences.

Can you count the ways this system violates the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights? This is just a thought exercise since Myanmar isn't a signatory, and even if it were, it would presumably derogate from Art. 14 under Art. 4.

Pwint Htun writes here in Just Security about the rule of law situation in Myanmar.

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