• Burmese
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
27 °c
Ashburn
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Military Seeks Second Defamation Suit Against Mandalay Monk

Zarni Mann by Zarni Mann
May 24, 2019
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
U Thawbita arrives to hand himself in at the Amarapura Township Police Station, Mandalay Region, on September 28, 2018 / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

U Thawbita arrives to hand himself in at the Amarapura Township Police Station, Mandalay Region, on September 28, 2018 / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

7.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY—A Myanmar military officer from Mandalay’s Central Command is seeking to file another lawsuit against U Thawbita, the local monk who is already facing a lawsuit for violating Article 66(d) Myanmar’s Telecommunications Law.

Lt-Col Aung Myo Kyaw, who is stationed with the Central Command in Mandalay, filed a complaint to Amarapura Township Court in Mandalay, and the court accepted the complaint on Thursday.

“I don’t know what kind of charge the court will file against him (U Thawbita). I filed a complaint about his Facebook posts which are extreme and defame the military. Military personnel are the staff of the State so defaming the military is defaming the State as well. The court will decide the charge, not me,” Lt-Col Aung Myo Kyaw told journalists after the court session on Thursday.

RelatedPosts

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

The Lady Myanmar’s Generals Can’t Defeat

June 19, 2025
842
Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

June 13, 2025
1.9k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

June 11, 2025
1.3k

According to U Thawbita’s lawyer, the court will make a decision on this additional complaint on June 6.

“The potential charge for the additional complaint could be under Article 505 (b) or 505 (a). Today, the court said it will hand over the complaint to the police for investigation. The court said it will make a decision on June 6 once the investigation is complete,” said Daw Ywat Nu Aung, U Thawbita’s lawyer. “We will only know then with which act he is charged with.”

At the same court on Thursday, U Thawbita’s first trial under the Telecommunications Law 66 (d), was ongoing. The court said it could not hear the trial, however, as the case was submitted to Mandalay Regional Court.

“The trial under the 66 (d) charge is still in the hands of the regional court. It is checking our complaints about the letter of the military officer’s representation which was not submitted in accordance with the law,” said the lawyer.

U Thawbita, who is head of the Bawa Alin charity, was not presented to the court on Thursday.

U Thawbita has repeatedly posted messages on Facebook criticizing the military and supporting State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy party.

He is accused of breaking the law with his Facebook posts which claim that Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing may have orchestrated the prison break in Karen State in September last year, for likening the military chief to a cow, and for describing the military as more destructive than a natural disaster.

The first lawsuit was filed by Lt-Col Myo Khaing Win in mid-September 2018, and following that he was expelled from his monastery, the Mahagandaryone Monastery located in Amarapura Township in Mandalay.

After his expulsion he turned himself in at Amarapura Township Police Station and was released on bail. He has been facing trial under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law since then.

The military has been using the same article, 66(d), to sue many people who criticized them. Most of those on trial face additional lawsuits under Myanmar’s Penal Code Article 505(a) and 505(b).

Members of the Peacock Generation thangyat troop, filmmaker U Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, former captain U Nay Myo Zin and the Zwe anyeint group who criticized the military are among those who are facing trials under similar laws.

You may also like these stories:

Sri Lanka President Pardons Hardline Buddhist Monk

Myanmar Can No Longer Afford to Ignore the Threat of Nationalism

Firebrand Monk Calls for Military Parliamentarians to be ‘Worshipped’

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Article 505Article 66(d)DefamationMilitaryU Thawbita
Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns
War Against the Junta

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns

by The Irrawaddy
December 18, 2024
25.3k

Ethnic army reportedly poised to capture regime’s last stronghold in Rakhine State.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion
Burma

Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion

by The Irrawaddy
February 5, 2024
24.4k

Naing Naing Oo elevated to Lieutenant-General and made chief of powerful Bureau of Special Operations No. 2, in a reshuffle...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats
Burma

Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats

by The Irrawaddy
January 12, 2024
20.1k

Major-General Hla Moe is reportedly the latest junta commander to pay the price for sweeping gains made by resistance forces. 

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts
Analysis

Myanmar Junta Counteroffensives Failing Across Country: Analysts

by Hein Htoo Zan
September 20, 2024
16.7k

Three major operations to retake territory from ethnic armies and their allies are being hampered by troop shortages, experts say.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Orders All Security Personnel to Frontline as Losses Mount in Hard-Hit Regional Commands
Burma

Myanmar Junta Orders All Security Personnel to Frontline as Losses Mount in Hard-Hit Regional Commands

by The Irrawaddy
May 31, 2024
13.5k

Full-time military service order covers soldiers, personnel, police and border guards in eight regional commands.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Begins Forced Conscription of Women in Some Areas, Residents Say
Burma

Myanmar Junta Begins Forced Conscription of Women in Some Areas, Residents Say

by Hein Htoo Zan
May 31, 2024
13.5k

The regime is selecting women from lists of eligible conscripts and building barracks for them in Ayeyarwady; in Bago, women...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
The home of the detained couple after being ransacked by the angry crowd in Ye Township, Mon State on May 21, 2019. / Min Thu Kha / Facebook

Mob Attacks Homes of Illegal Money Syndicate Operators in Mon State

Siemens Technical Consultant Zarni Htet, right, explains an automation exhibition to attendees of the Industry 4.0 conference in Yangon on May 24, 2019. / Danny Fenster / The Irrawaddy

What Industry 4.0 Demands of Myanmar

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

1 week ago
1.9k
New Law on Civil Servants by Myanmar’s Parallel Gov’t Troubles Observers

New Law on Civil Servants by Myanmar’s Parallel Gov’t Troubles Observers

1 day ago
848

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Scrambles for Chinese Energy Investment as Lights Go Out

    Myanmar Junta Scrambles for Chinese Energy Investment as Lights Go Out

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New Law on Civil Servants by Myanmar’s Parallel Gov’t Troubles Observers

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Moves to Seize Sagaing Roads

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Changes Election Law Ahead of Polls

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Certifying a Chinese Security Invasion; Boosting Ties With Nuclear North Korea; and More

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.