Myanmar court jails satirical performers

A court in Myanmar sentenced five satirical performers to a year in jail with hard labour on Wednesday for shows that criticized the army’s role in politics. The five were arrested after taking part in Thangyat, a centuries-old tradition during Myanmar’s new year water festival in April. It pokes fun at the flaws and foibles of the social and political system. During shows and a Facebook broadcast, they criticised the army’s share of a quarter of the seats in parliament and shared pictures of a dog in a military jacket.