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
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.
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.
Ye Yint Tun, a reporter with the Myanmar Herald news website, was first arrested on February 28, 2021, while covering a protest in Pathein, and was held in pretrial detention until his sentencing. On March 23, 2022, a special court in the city of Pathein sentenced Ye Yint Tun to two years in prison for allegedly violating Section 505(a) and 505(b) of the penal code. Ye Yint was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.
Myanmar freelance journalist La Pyae, a contributor to the local Bago Weekly news publication, was arrested on April 5, 2021, under unclear circumstances, and was held at Pyay Prison in the Bago Region. La Pyae was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.
It was reported that a freelance photographer, San Myint was arrested any reason by terrorists on 2 May near Aungchanthar St 4, Pathein City, Ayeywarwaddy Region. The family of San Myint is concerned that they haven’t known where the arrest has been taken. San Myint was among the six media personnel to be released in the Myanmar junta's mass amnesty on November 17, 2022.
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.
The junta-controlled Ministry of Information announced via state media on 26 October 2022 that the news outlet has been banned and its license revoked, accusing it of damaging “state security, rule of law and public tranquility” through its reporting.
Sithu Aung Myint, a columnist for news site Frontier Myanmar and commentator with Voice of America Radio was arrested on August 15, 2021. He was charged with sedition and spreading false information. On October 7, 2022, Insein Prison court in Yangon convicted and sentenced Sithu Aung Myint to three years in prison with hard labour.
Ko Pho Thiha is freelance reporter in Myauk-U Township, and he was arrested and taken to Myoma Police Station in Myauk-U on 20 September 2022.
On 18 September, security forces arrested Ko Ko Oo, a journalist of Shuu Dounk journal along with a local resident named Ko Soe Win Che from Guta ward in Taungkot. Their families haven’t got any update of them.
Htet Htet Khine was arrested in last year and today military junta’s kangaroo Bahan Township Court sentenced her for 3 years imprisonment with hard labour. She was accused of breaching article 505 (A) and 17 (1).
Ma Yu Wai Myint is admin and in charge of Voice of Mandalay Social Media News Agency and she was arrested on 4 September 2022 when she was at home in Aung Myay Tharzan Township. Military junta took her to interrogation centre in Mandalay Place and it was reported that she was tortured and beaten by military.
The junta revoked the publication license of the Kantarawaddy Times, a Karenni-based news outlet on August 29, 2022.
Ko Zaw Zaw @ Diana was arrested on 10 April 2022 at home and accused of breaching article 505 (A) by military junta. He was in interrogation centre for nearly one month and finally he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment on 24 August 2022.
On July 30, military authorities arrested Aye Kyaw, a member of the Upper Myanmar Photography Association who had photographed anti-junta protests, at his home in the city of Sagaing, according to reports. Afternoon of same day, Aye Kyaw’s family was told that Aye Kyaw had died in custody and his body was being held at the Sagaing City Hospital.
Toru Kubota, Japanese documentary filmmaker, was detained in South Dagon Township, Yangon Region, along with two protesters, while documenting an anti-regime rally against the executions of four pro-democracy activists. He had been charged with incitement under 505(a) of the Penal Code and for breaching visa rules under Article 13 of the Immigration Act.
Ye Naing Swe is an ex-journalist and military junta came and arrested him at his home in Shwe Min Wun Ward, Sagaing Township on 12 June 2022. Nobody knows reason of arrest and he has been detained in No(1) Local Police Station in Sagaing Township.