Yangon: Myanmar's President has approved a
new law allowing citizens to request permission to stage
peaceful protests for the first time.
Demonstrations of any kind were previously banned in the
traditionally repressive nation, where authorities have
cracked down hard on anti-government protests.
The new law says anyone planning a protest must request
approval five days beforehand from police, who can deny
permission but must explain the reason why.
The move is the latest reform undertaken by the
nominally civilian government since it took power from a
military junta earlier this year.
State media reported today that President Thein Sein
signed the legislation a day earlier, as US Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton ended a three-day visit.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 03, 2011, 15:15