The British Empire started to fall apart after the Second World War. Over the new few years, at the culmination of long, hard-fought independence struggles, countries all over the world gained independence and were free, more or less, to pursue their own goals and self-rule. However, an unhelpful inheritance of colonial legislation designed to repress, control, and curtail freedom of expression was bestowed upon these nations. This inheritance continues to contribute to the repression of democratic norms, and the curtailment of human rights, just as it did during the British Empire.
On September 3rd, Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years in prison under the 1908 Official Secrets Act. The sentencing was condemned worldwide, including by the British Foreign Office. However, what is often overlooked is that the repressive legislation used, became part of Burma’s legislation back in 1908, when it was part of the British Raj. During Britain’s departure from Burma in 1948, it did not remove or adapt the legal code to one befitting a democratic nation, leaving its colonial legislation behind long after independence. This archaic legislation continues to be used in the country, from the Penal Code of 1860, to the Unlawful Association Act of 1908, to detain activists, civilians across the country.
To Acknowledge The ‘Truth’ Of France’s Colonial Past, Emmanuel Macron Must Account For Crimes Closer To Home.