A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/icc-approves-probe-into-alleged-myanmar-rohingya-abuse-262151">Myanmar</a>&nbsp;judge&nbsp;on Monday extended the&nbsp;sentences&nbsp;of a troupe of satirical performers&nbsp;jailed&nbsp;for&nbsp;mocking&nbsp;the&nbsp;military, in a case that has raised a new concern about freedom of expression.

Seven members of the Peacock Generation troupe were arrested in April after taking part in Thangyat, a centuries-old form of poetry and performance that pokes fun at the flaws and foibles of the social and political system.

During live shows and a Facebook broadcast, they criticized the army’s continued role in politics and shared pictures of a dog in a&nbsp;military&nbsp;jacket.

Five members of the troupe were sentenced last month to a year in jail with hard labor for undermining the armed forces.

A court in the commercial capital of Yangon on Monday added another year under the same charge. The performers are being sued in multiple townships.

The&nbsp;sentences&nbsp;will run concurrently, meaning the&nbsp;poets&nbsp;will serve an additional 18 days in prison, lawyer San San Myint told Reuters.

A sixth performer was sentenced to a year with hard labour, while another was acquitted.

Some of them are facing additional charges under the Telecommunications Act which covers online defamation.

The performers all denied any wrongdoing.

Two&nbsp;military&nbsp;spokesmen did not answer phone calls seeking comment.

The&nbsp;military&nbsp;ruled with an iron fist for nearly 50 years until a gradual transition to democracy began in 2011 under a constitution drafted with the supervision of the generals, which gives them significant powers over a civilian government.

Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the&nbsp;judge's ruling as "a relentless assault on freedom of expression".

"These new convictions against the Peacock Generation are signs of a relentless assault on freedom of expression in&nbsp;Myanmar," Nicholas Bequelin of Amnesty International said in a statement.

"It is ludicrous that these performers have yet to face even more charges and jail terms in the future. The authorities must end this madness and release them all immediately and without conditions."

Paing Phyo Min, one of the&nbsp;poets, addressed reporters outside the court in a blue prison uniform, his feet shackled.

"The&nbsp;military, which sues and imprisons people, is an institution with no dignity," he said.

"Such an institution with no dignity is a villain for our country."

A Myanmar judge on Monday extended the sentences of a troupe of satirical performers jailed for mocking the military, in a case that has raised a new concern about freedom of expression.

A Myanmar judge on Monday extended the sentences of a troupe of satirical performers jailed for mocking the military, in a case that has raised a new concern about freedom of expression. Seven members of the Peacock Generation troupe were arrested in April after taking part in Thangyat, a centuries-old form of poetry and performance that pokes fun at the flaws and foibles of the social and political system. During live shows and a Facebook broadcast, they criticized the army’s continued role in politics and shared pictures of a dog in a military jacket. Five members of the troupe were sentenced last month to a year in jail with hard labor for undermining the armed forces. A court in the commercial capital of Yangon on Monday added another year under the same charge. The performers are being sued in multiple townships. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the poets will serve an additional 18 days in prison, lawyer San San Myint told Reuters. A sixth performer was sentenced to a year with hard labour, while another was acquitted. Some of them are facing additional charges under the Telecommunications Act which covers online defamation. The performers all denied any wrongdoing. Two military spokesmen did not answer phone calls seeking comment. The military ruled with an iron fist for nearly 50 years until a gradual transition to democracy began in 2011 under a constitution drafted with the supervision of the generals, which gives them significant powers over a civilian government. Human rights group Amnesty International condemned the judge's ruling as "a relentless assault on freedom of expression". "These new convictions against the Peacock Generation are signs of a relentless assault on freedom of expression in Myanmar," Nicholas Bequelin of Amnesty International said in a statement. "It is ludicrous that these performers have yet to face even more charges and jail terms in the future. The authorities must end this madness and release them all immediately and without conditions." Paing Phyo Min, one of the poets, addressed reporters outside the court in a blue prison uniform, his feet shackled. "The military, which sues and imprisons people, is an institution with no dignity," he said. "Such an institution with no dignity is a villain for our country."

Myanmar judge extends sentences for poets jailed for mocking military

In a classroom on the outskirts of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/former-blackwater-contractor-erik-prince-in-myanmar-security-venture-204928&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj_rKu18MzhAhUKsI8KHa1BAMYQFggIMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2D4rhmB7rcaAo0KEd0XldN">Myanmar</a>'s biggest city, a thin, bespectacled university student-led about a dozen peers in boisterous chants of "Censorship is a shame!" and "We don’t believe in censorship!"

It was the final rehearsal of a troupe performing "thangyat", a centuries-old custom allowing free rein to satirise rulers and society during New Year celebrations that began on Saturday.

The tradition, featuring a mix of comedy and slam poetry set to drums, has sparked controversy this year, with troupes in Yangon, the commercial capital, saying the first democratic government in 50 years forced them to submit lyrics to a sensor panel.

"We founded the thangyat in order to serve as the people’s messengers to the government," said the student, 20-year-old Thant Zin.

"Why don’t they dare to listen to the people of the country, students of the country?" added Aung Min Thu, a 23-year-old who helped organize the troupe.

The issue has ignited debate on social media and highlights Myanmar's limits on freedom of speech under the government of Nobel peace laureate <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-aung-san-suu-kyi-united-nations-in-geneva-in-next-week-198796&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi4gYLT8czhAhX-7HMBHbQADWUQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0-qvNs5pntwkNejkXCEahN">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>, a year ahead of elections set for 2020.

A spokesman for Suu Kyi's ruling party, the National League for Democracy, said the curbs on thangyat were "temporary" as Myanmar moves towards democracy.

"Currently our country hasn't achieved democracy," said Dr Myo Nyunt. "We worry that unnecessary things will happen due to the thangyat. So the authorities issued temporary restrictions."

He added, "We always prioritize and are working on freedom of speech and freedom of expression."

"CAN'T ALLOW OBSTRUCTIVE WAYS"

The military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades outlawed thangyat performances but they resumed in 2013 after a return to semi-civilian rule. Many supporters of Suu Kyi’s party pushed for the revival.

But in March, ahead of this year's celebrations, authorities in Yangon, home of the most elaborate performances, set up a panel to scrutinise the lyrics of thangyat, and performers must now seek its approval.

The panel aims at averting ethnic or religious conflict, rather than censorship, its chairman, Zaw Aye Maung, told Reuters by telephone.

"There is freedom of speech, but we can’t allow obstructive ways, can’t speak harmful words about individual people or organizations," he said.

"The main thing is not to destroy the unity of ethnic people, not to destroy the sovereignty of the country, not to destroy the union."

However, officials with loudspeakers have gone around at least two townships warning they would take action if thangyat performances targeted the government, residents told Reuters.

Thant Zin’s troupe and members of others said they had refused to submit their lyrics to the panel and planned to perform on the street anyway.

"The stages which accepted us during previous festivals apologised and rejected us," said Thant Zin.

His troupe is one of several planning lyrics that criticise the government’s failure to amend the 2008 constitution, which reserves power for the military, as well as lacklustre economic growth and controversial development projects.

"Thangyat reveals the obstacles of the people," he said.

FREE SPEECH REPRESSED

Three-and-a-half years after a landslide 2015 election win that brought Suu Kyi’s government to power, it faces international pressure for its response to a military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in August 2017 that drove some 730,000 into neighbouring Bangladesh.

The campaign was executed with "genocidal intent", the United Nations has said.

At home, critics say the administration has been slow to fulfil election promises to reconcile armed rebels in different regions and amend the military-drafted constitution.

Activists say authorities have failed to safeguard freedom of expression. One group, Athan, or "Voice" in Burmese, says 44 journalists and 142 activists have faced trial under the Suu Kyi government.

Among them are Reuters reporters Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, jailed in September for seven years on convictions of breaking the colonial-era Official Secrets Act.

"The government cannot fix the problems if they cannot hear the criticisms," one political activist, Kyaw Ko Ko, told Reuters by telephone.

"Especially with the 2020 election coming, they need to listen to the situation, what is happening among people."

In a classroom on the outskirts of Myanmar's biggest city, a thin, bespectacled university student-led about a dozen peers in boisterous chants of "Censorship is a shame!

In a classroom on the outskirts of Myanmar's biggest city, a thin, bespectacled university student-led about a dozen peers in boisterous chants of "Censorship is a shame!" and "We don’t believe in censorship!" It was the final rehearsal of a troupe performing "thangyat", a centuries-old custom allowing free rein to satirise rulers and society during New Year celebrations that began on Saturday. The tradition, featuring a mix of comedy and slam poetry set to drums, has sparked controversy this year, with troupes in Yangon, the commercial capital, saying the first democratic government in 50 years forced them to submit lyrics to a sensor panel. "We founded the thangyat in order to serve as the people’s messengers to the government," said the student, 20-year-old Thant Zin. "Why don’t they dare to listen to the people of the country, students of the country?" added Aung Min Thu, a 23-year-old who helped organize the troupe. The issue has ignited debate on social media and highlights Myanmar's limits on freedom of speech under the government of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, a year ahead of elections set for 2020. A spokesman for Suu Kyi's ruling party, the National League for Democracy, said the curbs on thangyat were "temporary" as Myanmar moves towards democracy. "Currently our country hasn't achieved democracy," said Dr Myo Nyunt. "We worry that unnecessary things will happen due to the thangyat. So the authorities issued temporary restrictions." He added, "We always prioritize and are working on freedom of speech and freedom of expression." "CAN'T ALLOW OBSTRUCTIVE WAYS" The military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades outlawed thangyat performances but they resumed in 2013 after a return to semi-civilian rule. Many supporters of Suu Kyi’s party pushed for the revival. But in March, ahead of this year's celebrations, authorities in Yangon, home of the most elaborate performances, set up a panel to scrutinise the lyrics of thangyat, and performers must now seek its approval. The panel aims at averting ethnic or religious conflict, rather than censorship, its chairman, Zaw Aye Maung, told Reuters by telephone. "There is freedom of speech, but we can’t allow obstructive ways, can’t speak harmful words about individual people or organizations," he said. "The main thing is not to destroy the unity of ethnic people, not to destroy the sovereignty of the country, not to destroy the union." However, officials with loudspeakers have gone around at least two townships warning they would take action if thangyat performances targeted the government, residents told Reuters. Thant Zin’s troupe and members of others said they had refused to submit their lyrics to the panel and planned to perform on the street anyway. "The stages which accepted us during previous festivals apologised and rejected us," said Thant Zin. His troupe is one of several planning lyrics that criticise the government’s failure to amend the 2008 constitution, which reserves power for the military, as well as lacklustre economic growth and controversial development projects. "Thangyat reveals the obstacles of the people," he said. FREE SPEECH REPRESSED Three-and-a-half years after a landslide 2015 election win that brought Suu Kyi’s government to power, it faces international pressure for its response to a military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in August 2017 that drove some 730,000 into neighbouring Bangladesh. The campaign was executed with "genocidal intent", the United Nations has said. At home, critics say the administration has been slow to fulfil election promises to reconcile armed rebels in different regions and amend the military-drafted constitution. Activists say authorities have failed to safeguard freedom of expression. One group, Athan, or "Voice" in Burmese, says 44 journalists and 142 activists have faced trial under the Suu Kyi government. Among them are Reuters reporters Wa Lone, 33, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 29, jailed in September for seven years on convictions of breaking the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. "The government cannot fix the problems if they cannot hear the criticisms," one political activist, Kyaw Ko Ko, told Reuters by telephone. "Especially with the 2020 election coming, they need to listen to the situation, what is happening among people."

'The people's messengers': Myanmar's satirical poets target censorship

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