Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, today expressed concern over the arrest of two more online journalists in Myanmar by the military rulers, who are currently facing an armed offensive from different anti-junta rebel groups in various parts of the southeast Asian nation.
The media outlets in Yangon (Rangoon) reported the arrest of journalists Aung San Oo and Myo Myint Oo (seen together in the photo above), who were associated with Tanintharyi Weekly Journal (published by Dawei Watch media group) from their residences in Dawei locality of southern Myanmar by the military forces. Their computers and mobile phones were also confiscated by the security personnel after the midnight raid on Monday, December 11, 2023.
“It’s unfortunate that the media persons in Myanmar continue to face harassment from the military regime in Naypyitaw since long back. We urge the authorities to release all the working journalists as they did only their duties. In any circumstances journalism must not be treated as a crime,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC.
PEC’s Asian regional representative Nava Thakuria informed that since the present batch of military dictators grabbed power after a coup on 1 February 2021, no less than 150 media workers were arrested and some of them even imprisoned under various fictitious laws. Till date, nearly 50 journalists are behind bars waiting for trials in the military courts. Several media outlets were already closed down and most of the journalists had left the country to escape the military atrocities.
– global bihari bureau
