BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s army authorities has arrested two journalists with a neighborhood on-line information service, their editor stated Wednesday, in its newest crackdown on media freedom since seizing energy practically three years in the past.
The chief editor of Dawei Watch, who spoke on situation of anonymity for worry of reprisals from authorities, informed The Related Press that Aung San Oo and Myo Myint Oo have been arrested late Monday at their houses within the coastal city of Myeik. The city is about 560 kilometers (350 miles) south of Yangon, the nation’s largest metropolis.
The editor stated they have been arrested three days after returning house from hiding and that safety forces informed relations they have been arrested for experiences they’d filed. The computer systems and cellphones of the reporters and their relations have been confiscated by police, and the journalists are being held in an interrogation camp, the editor stated.
Dawei Watch principally covers information in southern Myanmar.
“Journalists are writing the information experiences and producing it in keeping with journalism ethics. Writing experiences will not be a criminal offense,” the editor stated. “Arresting, interrogating, and taking actions towards the journalists in the identical method as executed to individuals who dedicated crimes shouldn’t be allowed. So I need to say: Launch the detained journalists as quickly as attainable.”
Dawei Watch’s chief editor stated a complete of 5 reporters and a columnist have been arrested because the military started cracking down on impartial media after seizing energy from the elected authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
Myanmar is without doubt one of the world’s largest jailers of journalists, second solely to China, based on Reporters With out Borders, and it’s ranked close to the underside of the watchdog group’s Press Freedom Index at 173rd out of 180 nations this yr.
At the very least 14 media shops have had their licenses revoked and a minimum of 163 journalists have been arrested because the coup, with about 49 of them nonetheless detained, based on media staff in Myanmar who monitor the state of affairs. Greater than half of these nonetheless in custody have been convicted and sentenced.
A lot of the detained journalists have been charged with incitement for allegedly inflicting worry, spreading false information or agitating towards a authorities worker.
At the very least 4 media staff have been killed and others tortured whereas in detention, the researchers stated.
Most media shops, together with Dawei Watch, now function semi-clandestinely, publishing on-line as workers members attempt to keep away from arrest. Others function from exile.
Final month, the army authorities amended the broadcasting legislation to put the Tv and Radio Broadcasting Council below the ruling army council’s direct management. The legislation beforehand allowed the council to function freely with out the affect of any authorities group.