Burmese junta continues to arrest scribes

Guwahati: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) a global media safety and rights organization condemns the Burmese junta (also known as Tatmadaw) and demands the unconditional release of all 45 journalists still detained since the coup that deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw, as the military rulers of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) continue to detain journalists in the south-east Asian country.

According to a local media outlet in Yangon of Myanmar, the Min Aung Hlaing-led military junta recently arrested two reporters Ko Zaw and Ma Moe Myint, from Dawei, the headquarter of the Tanintharyi area in southern Myanmar on January 19, 2022. They were detained alongside a media staffer, Ko Thar Gyi, who also works for the DaweiWatch Burmese news portal (www.daweiwatch.com).

According to reports, military forces also raided and took data from the offices of a media outfit that largely covers socio-political developments in Myanmar’s southern regions.

However, the portal recently reported on the worsening human rights situation in Tanintharyi as over 50 citizens have been slain and nearly 900 have been imprisoned since the coup day.

“The Burmese dictatorship continues to detain journalists, raid newsrooms, and threaten media outlets with harsh legislation in order to stifle the press.” In the last 11 months, it has detained nearly 125 journalists. “It’s astonishing that 45 scribes have still to be released,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of the Press Emblem Commission (www.pressemblem.ch), adding that they must be released and allowed to fulfil their jobs as journalists.

According to PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that within 30 days three Burmese journalists were killed by military crimes.

It may be noted that a freelance photojournalist, Ko Soe Naing died in military prison on December 14th.

Meanwhile, on the 25th of December, journalist Sai Win Aung of Federal News died of head injuries caused by Tatmadaw-operated shells.

Pu Tui Dim, the editor of the Khonumthung news agency was also killed by military fire on January 9th.

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