Guwahati: The recent death in military custody of Myanmar photographer Aye Kyaw has prompted a call for justice from the international organisation for media safety and rights, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
The photographer from the Sagaing region became well known for documenting anti-junta demonstrations and other activities that spread throughout the country after the military dictators staged a coup on February 1, 2021, to seize power and overthrow the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi government in Naypietaw.
Late on July 30, the military junta detained Aye Kyaw, the second journalist to perish as a result of junta abuses. Later, the military authorities said that he had passed away.
A prominent member of the Upper Myanmar Photography Association was cremated on Sunday after carrying out the required rites. They surmise that the cruel military administration led by senior general Min Aung Hlaing was upset with Aye Kyaw because he frequently shared images from anti-junta protests on social media, which were then transmitted by numerous pro-democracy lawmakers and also published to local media sources.
“Myanmar has suffered a chaotic socio-political scenario, where the military rulers are targeting the activists and even the journalists,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC. Over 130 media professionals have been detained so far, and 25 of them are Burmese journalists who have been detained for lengthier lengths of time.