Myanmar's reformist law used to stifle dissent


May Sabe Phyu, wife of NGO worker Patrick Kum Jaa Lee, poses in their home at Yangon October 23, 2015. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

YANGON (Reuters) - Last week's arrest of an NGO worker in Myanmar for a Facebook post is raising fears that legislation drawn up as part of the country's economic and democratic liberalisation are being used to stifle dissent in ways reminiscent of laws drafted by the former military junta.

Myanmar only began to regain its freedoms of expression from 2011 after 49 years of military rule, and critics fear the arrest of Patrick Kum Jaa Lee for commenting on a picture showing a foot standing on a photo of commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing is a worrying backward step.

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