Crimes against journalists
Freedom of speech is critical to free and fair elections. Since the military staged a coup in Myanmar they have perpetrated a regime to crush free speech. This has included a growing list of humanitarian crimes against journalists and media outlets reporting in and on behalf of the country.
This is a living page detailing those crimes, which is updated monthly.
If you would like to contact us about a crime against a journalist, please reach out to [email protected]
2022
Military junta came to arrest reporter Ma Moe Myint and Ko Zaw Ko as well as office staff Phyo Pyae Lay Lwin @ Thar Gyi at their homes on 19 January 2022. The security force also raided office of Dawei Watch and nobody knows a place where they have been taken by military.
It was reported that Ko Aung Zaw Zaw, part-time video editor at Mandalay Free Press News, was arbitrarily ABDUCTED from his home at Tawkkashap village in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region. The cause of arrest and his whereabouts unknown yet.
Source (hyperlink word ‘source’ to below link)
On January 6 or 7, 2022, members of the Myanmar military’s 140 Infantry Battalion abducted at least 10 people, including journalist Pu Tuidim, amid fighting between the military and anti-government forces in Chin State’s Matupi Township, and later executed them. On January 9, Pu Tuidim’s body was found near that township’s Kilong village, along with the bodies of the other abductees.
2021
Sai Win Aung, also known as A Sai K, was killed in an artillery attack by Myanmar military forces on December 25, 2021, while reporting on refugees in southeastern Kayin state’s Myawaddy township, near the border with Thailand.
It was reported that Win Win Nwe, a former journalist for The First News and First Weekly News Journal, was arrested at her house in Shan State’s Taunggyi on 24 December 2021. Her whereabouts are still unknown.
Ko Nyein Chan Wai, a correspondent of Bago Weekly Journal, who was arrested by military junta at his father-in-law’s house on May 15, 2021 and detained at Thayawaddy Prison in Bago Division. On 17 December 2021 he was sentenced to 3 years in prison Section 505 (a) of Penal Code.
It was reported that Ko Min Thike Tun (an underaged reporter of Monywa based Regional News Agency), were brutally beaten and forciblt abducted by military junta during raiding of Ahlone Monastery in Sagaing Region on 12 December 2021.
At around midnight on December 11, military junta raided Aung San Lin’s home in the village of Pin Zin, in the north western region of Sagaing, and arrested him, according to news reports and a report by his employer. An unnamed family member of the journalist who said he was beaten while being taken into detention but did not say how he was attacked or the extent of any injuries. Aung San Lin, was sentenced on 7 July to a total of six years of hard labour on "terrorism" and "false news" charges
A photo journalist, Soe Naing was arrested on Human Rights Day , 10 December in 2021. He was taken military junta while he and his colleagues were taking photos of empty streets during a ‘silent strike’ in Myanmar. It was also reported that Soe Naing died in interrogation centre on 12 December.
Two crime reporters based in Myaung Mya Township, Aung Moe Zaw and U Hla Myo (Yarzar Gyi) have also been detained in junta custody since August and 1 November respectively. All three were prosecuted with section 505(A) by Myaung Mya Police Station, Ayeyarwaddy Region.
Two crime reporters based in Myaung Mya Township, Aung Moe Zaw and U Hla Myo (Yarzar Gyi) have also been detained in junta custody since August and 1 November respectively. All three were prosecuted with section 505(A) by Myaung Mya Police Station, Ayeyarwaddy Region.
The junta revoked the publication license of the Delta News Agency, an Ayeyarwaddy-based news outlet on October 4, 2021.
Arrest of journalist from Shwe Phee Myay News.
Phyo Lay Chan, editor of the Maubin Hittaing News Agency, was arrested by military in Maubin Township on September 21. He was arrested by military after the Maubin news agency stopped reporting after military coup.
Mizzima News former editor-in-chief Myo Thant was arrested yesterday in Kangye Htaung, a township in southwestern Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River delta region. RSF has learned that the security forces went to the township after being told he was there, and threatened to take his aunt if he did not surrender. He was finally arrested at round 8 pm.
Security abducted Zaw Moe Oo, a journalist from Myeik based Eleven Media and detained at police station.
It was reported that Ko Me Min Soe, former reporter of DVB news agency was abducted by military on 23 August 2021 and he was charged under 505 (A) at Monywa Police Station.
Htet Htet Khine, a freelance producer for BBC Media Action was arrested. She was accused of harbouring Sithu Aung Myint.
U Zaw Thi Han, a freelance reporter was charged under 505A and abducted by SAC terrorists on July 25 with false accusation of encouraging to bang pots and pans, in Seikphyu Township, Magway Region.
It was reported that freelance journalist Ko Chit Min Hlaing was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment by SAC for reporting and sharing news. He was arrested on 22 April 2021 in Pakokku Township.