Justice for Myanmar

Justice For Myanmar
FormationWebsite launched on April 28, 2020; 4 years ago (2020-04-28)
FocusAnti-corruption; government accountability
Websitewww.justiceformyanmar.org

Justice For Myanmar (abbreviated JFM) is a covert group of activists campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar.[1] Justice for Myanmar's public website launched on 28 April 2020.[1] Since its launch, the group has published a number of high-profile exposés related to the business dealings of high-ranking military and government officials in the country, in a campaign to publicly pressure the dismantling of the Burmese military's business practices and systemic corruption.[2]

In August 2020, the Burmese government blocked the group's website, under Section 77 of Myanmar's telecommunications law, which has been used by the government as a censorship tool to stifle dissent and public scrutiny.[3][4][5] On 29 August 2020, Telenor Myanmar issued a statement confirming that it had complied with the government directive, but noted its position on freedom of expression and the right of access to information.[6] On 3 September 2020, the group launched a mirror site to circumvent the censorship.[7] The censorship was condemned by a joint statement by Reporters Without Borders, Sherpa, and Info Birmanie.[7] The censorship of JFM was cited as an example in the escalation of technical censorship in Myanmar's 2020 Freedom on the Net report, published by Freedom House.[8]

  1. ^ a b "Justice For Myanmar responds to Myanmar government censorship". Burma Campaign UK. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  2. ^ "About The Campaign". Justice For Myanmar. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  3. ^ "Government blocks access to website of group exposing military's business ties". Myanmar NOW. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  4. ^ "Myanmar faces backlash over media clampdown during pandemic". The Myanmar Times. 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  5. ^ "Myanmar blocks website of rights group critical of Tatmadaw". The Myanmar Times. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  6. ^ "Directive to block website and 3 IP addresses". Telenor Myanmar. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  7. ^ a b "Activists launch mirror site to bypass Myanmar censorship". The Myanmar Times. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  8. ^ "Myanmar". Freedom House. Retrieved 2021-01-11.