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| Burma repeals law used by junta to jail dissidents | |
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| Burma has repealed a law that the military junta used to sentence dissidents to long prison terms, state media reported, in the latest step towards reforming the government after decades of authoritarian rule. | Burma has repealed a law that the military junta used to sentence dissidents to long prison terms, state media reported, in the latest step towards reforming the government after decades of authoritarian rule. |
| The law called for prison sentences of up to 20 years for those "who write or deliver speeches that could undermine peace and stability of the nation". The Myanma Ahlin daily said on Tuesday that the law was enacted in 1996 as the military government was drawing up guidelines for the country's constitution and faced opposition from many parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. | |
| Several dissidents and anti-regime activists were given long sentences under the law. Burma's opposition welcomed the move but remained cautious over other repressive laws. | Several dissidents and anti-regime activists were given long sentences under the law. Burma's opposition welcomed the move but remained cautious over other repressive laws. |
| "That law is actually irrelevant now because it was enacted during the drawing of the constitution guidelines. The constitution was adopted and already in force," NLD spokesman Nyan Win said on Wednesday. | "That law is actually irrelevant now because it was enacted during the drawing of the constitution guidelines. The constitution was adopted and already in force," NLD spokesman Nyan Win said on Wednesday. |
| Prominent activist lawyer Aung Thein said on Wednesday Burma still had other severe laws to deal with the government's opponents, including the law that put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for most of the past two decades. Offences under some of these laws are punishable by death or life imprisonment. | |
| "These laws had been used by the administrative authorities to support their judicial power. The laws are very elastic and can be used according to their requirement," he said. | "These laws had been used by the administrative authorities to support their judicial power. The laws are very elastic and can be used according to their requirement," he said. |