Sentencing the trio, judge Ye Lwin stated the online image had caused offence to Buddhists throughout the country. The judge continued by saying the ad violated Myanmar’s religious statutes in that it was an insult to Buddha.
The convicted men are VGastro owner Tun Thurein, general manager Philip Blackwood and bar manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin. They were given additional sentences of six months apiece for allowing the bar to open past its permitted licensing hours of 22:00.
The image first appeared last December on the VGastro’s Facebook page as a promotion for a party at the establishment. The picture triggered outrage among Buddhists and the pub soon removed the offending image from the Facebook entry.
The VGastro posted an apology on the page saying it had not meant to offend anybody or insult religion. The apology added that the management was ashamed of its ignorance and would strive to learn more about the Myanmese people’s religious and cultural beliefs.
Speaking after sentencing, Mr Blackwood said all three had expected stiff sentences. They could have been given four years each under the religions act. A spokesperson for the Asian arm of the Human Rights Watch slammed the sentence and said it basically outlawed free speech.
Three jailed in Myanmar for insulting Buddha
News in Asia
Three men have been imprisoned in Myanmar for posting up an image of Buddha with a set of headphones on a Facebook ad. Two Myanmar nationals and one New Zealander each received two-year sentences at a court in Yangon on Tuesday for their roles in posting up the picture on the VGastro Bar’s webpage.