Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Bill committee deletes a section in ‘Right to Demonstration’ Bill

0 comments
 
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 22:15 Myo Thant

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A bill titled “Right to peacefully assemble and march in procession” submitted by the Home Ministry in the Lower House of Parliament included a restriction on locations of the demonstration or assembly. A Lower House bill committee deleted the section from the bill, MPs said.

Chapter 5, paragraph (a), of the bill submitted by Home Minister Lieutenant General Ko Ko said: “There will be no right to assemble and marching in procession at government offices, work establishments, factories, religious places, schools, railway stations, airports, jetties, bus terminals and hospitals.”


After the bill was sent to the bill committee, the paragraph was found to be deleted when committee member Ngun Mung resubmitted it to Parliament, MPs told Mizzima.

According to the bill, permission to demonstrate must be sought seven days in advance from the General Administration office concerned and must also be approved by the township police office.

The committee also amended the bill to allow applicants to reapply to higher authorities in the region or state if the township police office rejects the application.

MPs who want to make comments on the bill must register with the Parliament office not later than Thursday.

In other business, in the Upper House MP Maung Saw Phyu of Rakhine State raised a question about the acquisition of 150 acres of farmland by a local military unit and companies in Minbya Township, Rakhine State. The question was answered by Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Myint Hlaing, who said that the acquisition was for the benefit of farmers.

Leave a Reply