Myanmar

The Faculty of Advocates deplores the attack on the legal profession in Myanmar following the military takeover and subsequent imposition of a state of emergency.

Changes to the Penal Code and criminal law, giving wide ranging powers of arrest, have resulted in many lawyers being arrested and imprisoned unjustly whilst others, fearful of arrest, are in hiding.

Such action against those who work and strive daily to uphold and maintain the Rule of Law is not only an attack on the legal profession, it is an attack on the Rule of Law itself. The Faculty calls for the support of all international bar associations in condemning the actions and calls for the immediate release of those lawyers arrested in the wake of the takeover.

This stance is welcomed by Shelagh McCall QC, Convener of the Faculty's Human Rights and Rule of Law Committee, and Tony Lenehan, President of the Scottish Criminal Bar Association.