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
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
A Shan journalist, Than Soe Aung, based in Namsang, southern Shan State, was sentenced to five years in prison by a military tribunal on 18 May, reports DVB. The sentence came after being detained for two months, according to sources close to the journalist. He was arrested at his home in the first week of March and was charged with incitement and spreading misinformation under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.
It was reported that Maung Maung Myo, freelance journalist of Maekhong News Agency was arrested on the bus heading to Mandalay in Pha-an Township on 11 May 2022. Security forces found some social media posts which are against military coup in his phone.
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).
Ko Win Naing Oo is a Chief Reporter of Mandalay TV News was arrested in Mandalay on 31 August 2021. He was initially charged under Article 505(a) of the penal code and detained in Oh Bo Prison. On 5 April 2022, a military controlled court in Oh Bo Prison sentenced him to five years in prison.
Ko Khin Myint Tun @ Shwe Lynn Thit is a reporter from Golden Traingle News Agency and he was arrested at his home on 11 July 2021. Military charged him with Counter Terrorism Act 51 (D) and now sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment on 5 April 2022.
Ko Naing Lin Htun, reporter of Dakkhina Insight News based in Dawei, was shot with live ammunition while he’s covering the protest news and forcibly abducted by military junta on 19 December 21. He’s been charged with 3 absurd charges and junta-controlled court sentenced to him for 3 years imprisonment on 31 March 2021.
A freelance journalist based in Myawaddy, Karen State—across the border from Thailand—has been charged with violating Section 505a of the Penal Code for incitement, according to a family friend.
While the reason for his arrest has not been confirmed, the source said that Nay Naw, also known as Myo Naung Naung Zaw, was accused of incitement after a March 27 report he published on social media.
Aung Zaw Zaw is a native journalist of Sagaing Region and he was arrested by 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.
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.