Geneva: Expressing annoyance over the continued detention of over 40 journalists in Myanmar, the global media safety and rights body Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) urges the military regime in Naypietaw to release all media persons with no condition and delay. The PEC appreciated the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) for documenting the media casualty and detentions under the current junta that grabbed power on 1 February 2021 from the democratically elected NLD government led by Nobel peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to the IPCM, at least seven journalists were killed and 200 others arrested by the Min Aung Hlaing-led junta since the 2021 coup, where journalists are still under detention with 11 scribes to serve long-term prison terms. The forum admitted that there may be more journalists under detention, which has not come to light. It added that the military dictators unjustly arrested media workers under brutal laws like the Unlawful Associations Act, Counter-Terrorism Law, Telecommunications Law, Explosive Substances Act, Natural Disaster Management Law, Immigration Act, etc.
“We condemn the Myanmar military authorities for persecuting the media persons with various inhuman laws. Many media outlets have been restricted from carrying out their normal activities. A large number of media workers have left the country to escape the military atrocities. The military regime must release all detainees including journalists and political prisoners as early as possible,” said PEC president Blaise Lempen, adding that the military dictators should also offer due financial compensation to the bereaved families of seven victim scribes.
PEC’s southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that since the Feb 21 coup, the Land of Pagodas lost journalists namely Ko Myat Thu Tun (Democratic Voice of Burma), Htet Myat Thu (Voice of Thanbyuzayat), Win Htut Oo (DVB), Pu Tui Dim (Khonumthung Media Group), Sai Win Aung (Federal News Journal), Aye Kyaw and Ko Soe Naing (both freelancers) to military atrocities. Along with IPCM (which was established in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2023), PEC has also recorded their cases in its official website (www.pressemblem.ch).
