Paing Ye Thu

Paing Ye Thu

Paing Ye Thu is a member of the Dagon University Students’ Union and a member of Peacock Generation Thangyat group. He was arrested in April 2019 during the Burmese New Year celebration for criticising and making fun of the military during a satirical performance. 

Thangyat is a type of slam poetry traditionally performed during the Burmese New Year holiday, and Thangyat groups usually highlight difficulties and situations of the country in a series of jokes. The Peacock Generation Thangyat group includes current and former members of the Student Union in Burma. Their satirical performance mostly included materials about the country’s constitution and the military.

He was charged under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code in two different townships in Rangoon for defamation. In November 2019, he was given two one – year prison sentences with hard labour to be served consecutively for violating the 505 (a) of Burma’s Penal Code. He was also charged under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act for posting photos and videos and livestreaming performances on Facebook.

While Paing Ye Thu has fought for the country’s democracy and freedom, he also propagated hatred against the Rohingya on social media, and supported the military’s attack on the Rohingya in 2017 as a legitimate response to “terrorism”. Full article can be read here.

He is currently serving his five years and six months prison sentence with hard labour in Insein prison.

Take Action

Write to the government of Burma

Key points to make:

• Highlight the case of Paing Ye Thu.
• Express concern that political prisoners are still in jail.
• Call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma.
• Call for the repeal or replacement of repressive laws which are used to jail political prisoners.

An airmail letter from United Kingdom to Myanmar (Burma) costs £1.42 You can check the cost and buy postage online here: https://send.royalmail.com/

Burmese Embassy London

Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn
Embassy of Myanmar
19a Charles Street
London W1J 5DX

Email: ambassadoroffice@londonmyanmarembassy.com

Burmese President

President U Win Myint
President’s Office
Office No. 18
Nay Pyi Taw
Myanmar

Minister of Home Affairs

Lt. Gen. Soe Htut Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10
Nay Pyi Taw
Myanmar

Email: mohamyanmar@gmail.com

Write to Paing Ye Thu

We know that letters can get through to political prisoners, and that it makes a real difference to them when they receive a letter. It lets them know that they haven’t been forgotten, that people are working for their release, and that there is hope.

Write to Paing Ye Thu here:

Paing Ye Thu
C/O The governor of Insein Prison
Insein Prison
Yangon
Myanmar

Letter writing tips:

• Letters can be as long or as short as you like. Even a half page letter is better than no letter at all!
• Tell them a little bit about yourself, your family, what you do.
• Tell them how you found out about their case.
• Say something about why you care and are taking the time to write this letter.
• Be encouraging, let them know that you and others will never give up campaigning for their release.
• If you have written to political prisoners before and they have been released, write about it. It will give them hope.
• Include an email address if you have one. When they are released they may be able to contact you.