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]
2023
It was reported that Zaw Lin Htut, a former member of the University Students’ Union Alumini Force as well as a freelance reporter was arrested on 19 December while he was going to join the protest in Thingangyun Township. He was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on Mar 31, 2022. Zaw Lin Htut was released on May 3, 2023 in an amnesty on so-called ‘humanitarian grounds.’
Nyein Nyein Aye @ Mabel is a freelance journalist and she was arrested in Yangon on 15 January 2022. She had been detained in the Insein Prison since she was arrested and finally military influenced court in the Insein Prison sentenced her to three years imprison with hard labour on 14 July 2022. Nyein Nyein Aye was released on May 3, 2023.
Freelance photo- and videographer Aung Win Htut was violently abducted from his house by the military on the evening of February 19, 2023. A few hours later, his family received news of his death.
Aung Zaw Zaw is a native journalist of Sagaing Region and he was arrested by the military at his home in Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region on 16 January 2022. He was accused of violating Section 505a of the Penal Code and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on March 23 in junta courts. Aung Zaw Zaw was released in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
Lwae N Phaung was arrested on 26 September 2021 at her home in Lashio Township by military junta and she was detained in Lashio Prison. On 7 April 2022, a court in Lashio Prison sentenced her to 2 years imprisonment with the accusation of breach of panel code 505 (a). She was released in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
Sai Ko Ko Tun, a former reporter at 7Day News, was arrested on November 30, 2021, by around 30 military officials at his home in Dawei’s Bon Maw ward. On January 28, 2022, a court inside Dawei Prison convicted and sentenced him under Article 505(a) of the penal code. He was released in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
It was reported that Ma Thuzar, a journalist was arbitrarily arrested on 1 September 2021 for no clear reason in Yangon. Her family and colleagues spent five days without any news of her after she was snatched by police as she left her home on the morning of 1 September. The police finally confirmed on 5 September that she had been arrested, but they have yet to give the judicial grounds for her arrest or say where she is being held. Thuzar was released from Insein Prison in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
Zayar Times reporter Pyae Phyo Aung was arrested by police on October 11, 2021, at a Buddhist monastery shortly after joining the monkhood. On January 6, 2022, a Shwebo Prison court convicted and sentenced him to two years under Article 505(a) of the penal code. He was released in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
Military junta came and arrested the former Ayeyarwaddy Times News Agency editor as well as a senior reporter for Myitmakha News Agency at his home in Pathein on 22 October 2021 and charged him with violating Article 505 (a) of Burma's Penal Code. He has already spent in prison for 10 months and finally the court in Pathein Prison sentenced to him two years imprisonment on the charge of panel code 505 (a). Myo Min Tun was released in the Myanmar junta's so-called "Independence Day Amnesty" on January 4, 2023.
2022
On February 2, 2022, Thurein Kyaw, founder of the independent outlet Media TOP 4, was beaten by unidentified attackers and detained while he covered a rally in support of the ruling military junta in Yangon. on December 30, 2022, a court in Yangon sentenced him to 10 years in prison with hard labor under Article 49(a) of the Counter Terrorism Law.
Aung Lwin, also known as Kan Pauk Thar, was arrested on April 8, 2022, in Dawei along with five other people. On December 29, 2022, a court in the southeastern city of Dawei sentenced Aung Lwin to five years in prison under Article 52(a) of the Counter Terrorism Law.
Hanthar Nyein, co-founder of the local news website Kamayut Media was arrested along with editor-in-chief Nathan Maung on March 9, 2021. A military court in Yangon’s Insein Prison sentenced him to two years under Section 505(a) of the penal code on March 21, 2022. Again on December 26, 2022, The Insein Prison Court sentenced Hanthar to an additional five years under Section 33(a) of the Electronics Transactions Law.
A court in Insein Prison last week indicted freelance journalist Soe Yarzar Tun under Section 52a of the Counter-Terrorism Law on 29 September 2022. Soe Yazar Tun was detained in Bago Region’s Thone Sel Township on March 10, just days after he escaped arrest when fifty soldiers raided a monastery in Bago where he was practising as a monk. On December 16, 2022, the special court inside Yangon’s Insein prison sentenced him to four years in prison with hard labour.
Htet Htet Aung, editor-in-charge, and Wai Lin Yu, editor-in-chief, from Thingyankyun Post were arrested on November 11, 2021. On December 16, 2022, the special court inside Yangon's Insein Prison sentenced them to five years in prison.
Ko Myo San Soe who is a reporter and videographer of Delta News Agency was arrested by military junta at his home in Phyar Pone City, Ayeyarwaddy Region without any reason on 29 August 2021. On November 30, 2022, a court inside Pyapon Prison, in the Ayeyarwady region, sentenced Myo San Soe, a freelance reporter who contributed to the local Delta News Agency and Ayeyarwaddy Times, to 15 years in prison on charges of violating Sections 50(j) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.
Win Oo, editor of New History for People, which primarily posts videos on Facebook, YouTube, and Telegram was arrested right after attending an Information Ministry news conference in the capital, Naypyitaw. He is believed to be one of the first journalists from media sympathetic to the ruling military to be arrested. There has been no official report about the arrest but NHP News has been inactive on its social media platforms since the day of the incident.
Zaw Min Oo, editor of Dae Pyaw, or "Tell Fortrightly," a small online news service was arrested right after attending an Information Ministry news conference in the capital, Naypyitaw. He is believed to be one of the first journalists from media sympathetic to the ruling military to be arrested.
Ko Than Htike Aung was arrested in Naypyitaw while he was taking news during U Win Htein’s verdict on 19 March 2021. On 22 March 2022, Zabuthiri’s Court, Naypyitaw sentenced him to two years imprisonment. He was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.
A journalist Mya Wun Yan, editor-in-chief of the local Than Lwin Tay Chin Journal, was arrested on July 20, 2021, at her home in Taunggyi, Shan state. She is being held in pre-trial detention on anti-state charges at the city’s Taung Lay Lone Prison. It was reported that military junta arrested Mya Wun Yan and her two daughters. Mya was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.
Ko Aung Myo Htet was arrested by military junta in Kantbalu Township on 20 April, 2021 and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on Nov 30 , 2021 under S: 505-a of the Penal Code. Aung was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.