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With increasing mobile [br]phone usage in Myanmar

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more people are gaining [br]access to the Internet.

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It is now regarded [br]as an effective tool

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for open communications and [br]promoting a global economy.

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According to the Internet World Statistics,[br]58% of Southeast Asians access the Internet.

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In Myanmar, 33% of our [br]people are Internet users.

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Globally, more people are using the [br]internet to access social media.

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From 28.7% in 2010, the number of users [br]worldwide increased to 54.4% in 2018.

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In 2013, the government created a new[br]telecommunications law, aiming to develop

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modern electronic communication [br]platforms with new telcos

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that will build sustainable[br]tech for Myanmar.

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However, Article 66(D)

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is used to condemn dissent

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instead of securing free communications.

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In Myanmar, using Facebook[br]is the main internet activity

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to share stories and opinions [br]with friends and family.

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Yet, the Myanmar people,

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who are expressing [br]diverse views online,

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are now prone to defamation cases

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with the existence of [br]the ambiguous Article 66(D)

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of the Telecoms Law.

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What is Article 66(D)?

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It is a criminal provision[br]that penalises people

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who are extorting, defaming, [br]disturbing or threatening

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any person using any [br]telecom network.

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Anyone found guilty will face [br]a jail term not exceeding two years,

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or pay a fine of not more than [br]1 million kyats (US$700), or both.

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Given the gravity of its sanctions, [br]the article does not protect anyone

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against malicious claims.

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Contrary to government claims,

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the law has not been used to [br]support tech development.

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Instead, it’s been used as a weapon [br]to suppress the voices of the people.

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Under the current government, [br]82% of 66(D) cases against civilians

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were by government and state officials.

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The same trend was observed [br]in the previous government.

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More than half of these cases were[br]filed by the police and military,

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whose actions were[br]met with protests.

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The majority of the accused[br]were political party members,

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journalists,

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religious people,

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human rights activists and artists.

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Together, let us assert our right[br]to a free and open internet.

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Let us abolish Article 66(D)!

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The rest of the [br]cases under 66(D)

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were against ordinary[br]citizens like you and I.

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It can target [br]anyone, anytime.

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Our freedom of expression should and[br]will not be trampled by one article.

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Let us bring real democracy to [br]Myanmar by abolishing 66(D)!