Burma allows first peaceful protest law

Burma's President Thein Sein has signed a law that will allow citizens of Burma, also known as Myanmar, to request permission to stage peaceful protests for the first time, BBC News reported.

All protests were previously banned in Burma.

This is the latest reform measure taken by Burma's first civilian-elected government since the military junta handed over power earlier this year.

According to the law, anyone planning a protest must request approval five days before the protest from the police, who can deny permission but must offer a reason for doing so, the Associated Press reported.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton toured Burma earlier in the week.

“It is a powerful endorsement for the government of Myanmar,” said Jim Della-Giacoma, the International Crisis Group’s Southeast Asia Project Director said to GlobalPost about Clinton's visit. 

“It provides them with an opportunity to forge a new strategic relationship with the US,” he said. “But to really make this work, they’ll need to give up something in return.”

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