According to lawyer Daw Aye Aye Moth, lawyers in Myanmar have started the yellow ribbon campaign on two grounds. First, they want to voice their disagreement regarding the appointment of military officers into top positions to serve in the Supreme Court. Secondly, they oppose the widespread negative criticism lawyers are facing on Facebook.
“The civilians have to start from step-4. They have to attend training and pass [exams] for promotions [level]. They can only take [exam for] promotions if they match the recognized years and qualifications. But now, those who are vice director general and director general with 30 years of working terms can do nothing. That is not compatible with the rules and laws.,” said Daw Aye Aye Moth.
Daw Aye Aye Moth also said that although in the past, former military officers have been appointed at judicial branches, there were not many of them. However after 2010, military officers came into positions at the top-level of the union supreme court. Yet, now, the lawyers from Mon State are still standing by and paying close attentions to activities and campaigns organized by the lawyers from Rangoon and Nay Pyi Taw. The Mon State lawyers also have planned to conduct the campaigns.
There will be various difficulties when it comes to contesting legal suits because at the top positions are appointed former military officers. This also causes a major barrier to professional lawyers.
“Even [some] current lawyers, who graduated with law and also joined law training, make mistakes. The law is very complex. Even the current lawyers make mistakes. So, no matter how smart they are, text-book knowledge and actual experience are not the same,” said Daw Aye Aye Moth.
On September 10, a small campaign of yellow ribbons was organized in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State. The lawyers association in Mon State is still planning to organize another campaign.
“Now, I have received yellow ribbons. I will share the ribbons out on this coming work day. Because we are in a rural city, some lawyers are not quite interested in this case very much,” said Lawyer Ko Hte Hein.
On Friday morning, in opposition to the appointment of military officers to judicial positions, lawyers in Yangon at Myanmar Media Lawyers Network’s office placed yellow ribbons on their work desks and attach on their [Burmese] jackets.
Lawyers in respective cities across Myanmar have begun Yellow Ribbon campaigns after the recent appointment of 20 former military officers to the positions of vice director generals at the Nay Pyi Taw’s Union Supreme Court.
