Guwahati: The global media safety and rights organisation Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) condemns the assassination of Chin journalist Pu Tui Dim by Burmese military troops and demands a thorough investigation into the events that led to his death. Tui Dim was killed by police in Matupi, Chin State, in northwestern Myanmar, on January 9, 2022.
The victim (35 years old) used to work for Khonumthung Media Group, an independent journalistic organisation that covered Chin State, the Kalay-Kabaw region, the Indo-Myanmar border, and general Myanmar topics in both English and Burmese. At the same place, two adolescents were killed in a police shooting.
Secretary-general of PEC, Blaise Lempen said that Tui Dim is the third journalist after Amady John Wesley and Wilguens Louissaint to be assassinated this year.
PEC further demanded authentic probes in the case and justice as well as adequate compensations to the families of the victims. A journalist must not be targeted by anyone and anywhere in the world, he added.
Myanmar (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) has lost two journalists to assailants since the Min Aung Hlaing-led military junta deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw on 1 February 2021, according to Nava Thakuria, PEC south-east Asian representative based in Guwahati.
On the 14th of December, freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died in military detention, becoming the country’s first media victim. On December 10, Naing was detained in Yangon while reporting an anti-junta demonstration. Later, on December 25, journalist Sai Win Aung (also known as A Sai Kay) died in Maekheewar hamlet in Karen State from head injuries caused by Tatmadaw-operated mortars.