May 14, 2016

Free poet MaungSaungkha – British campaign group

Burma Campaign UK has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Maung Saungkha and urged the Myanmar government to reform the Prisoners of Conscience Affairs Committee and to ensure the release of Maung Saungkha and all remaining political prisoners in Myanmar.

Maung Saungkha is a Myanmar poet and pro-democracy activist. On 8th October 2015, he wrote a poem about having a portrait of a president tattooed on his penis. He posted the poem on Facebook. Former President Thein Sein's spokesperson Zaw Htay saw the Facebook post and called for his prosecution and on the same day, police arrived at his house to arrest him. When he heard the charges had been filed against him, he went into hiding.

After nearly four weeks on the run, he was arrested on 5th November 2015 and sent to Insein prison. Since then he has been charged under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act for defamation. He is currently being detained in Insein prison while his trial continues. (Courtesy of Mizzima)

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