The Myanmar military government announced on the 30th that anyone who criticizes or protests the government's proposed election, planned for the end of the year, will face imprisonment.
Myanmar's official media, The Global New Light of Myanmar, reported that the “Law on Protecting Multi-Party Democracy Elections from Obstruction, Interference, and Destruction” was promulgated on the 29th.
The new law spans 14 pages, explicitly prohibiting any speech, organizational activities, as well as incitement, protest, or distribution of leaflets aimed at disrupting the electoral process. On conviction, individual offenders will face imprisonment ranging from 3 to 7 years, while collective offenders can be sentenced to 5 to 10 years.
The new law also prohibits damaging ballots and polling stations, as well as intimidating or harming voters, candidates, and election workers. Those in violation can be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
The law also stipulates that if anyone is killed in an attempt to disrupt the election, “all participants in the crime will face the death penalty.”
Myanmar military government leader Min Aung Hlaing promised at a meeting in Naypyitaw on June 25 that elections in Myanmar would be held in December this year and January next year.