Myanmar junta declares lawyers council unlawful

Yangon (M&C)- Myanmar's junta has declared the Burma's Lawyer Council (BLC) 'unlawful,' claiming the organization was 'hurtful to the rule of law in the Union of Myanmar, stability of the state and community peace,' state news reports said Friday.

Major General Maung Oo, minister of Home Affairs, declared the Burma Lawyers Council an illegal organization as of Friday, The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

The Burma Lawyers Council, which was established in a 'liberated area' in 1994, is an independent organization that has often criticized the military's imprisonment of political prisoners and abuse of the country's judicial system.

The announcement was criticized by local politicians.

'The BLC, a foreign organization, has criticized the Myanmar government because many Myanmar lawyers have been imprisoned by Myanmar government,' said one Myanmar politician, who asked to remain anonymous.