A Kay Sai
By Nava Thakuria*
2022 has arrived with expectations. The bygone year had witnessed the killing of 79 media employees by assailants in 29 countries marking an improvement in journo-murder index by 14% where 92 were killed last year.
The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, has lately confirmed the death of Burmese journalist A Kay Sai (also known as Sai Win Aung) because of serious head injuries by the shell operated by the Myanmar military junta at Maekheewar village of Karen State on December 25 last. Sai (38) was trapped in crossfire between the junta forces and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) rebels and finally hit by artillery from Tatmadaw.
“We strongly condemn the killing of journalists by the Burmese military personnel. Prior to him, Yangon-based freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died under military custody on December 14, 2021. PEC condoles their demise and urges the military dictator Min Aung Hlaing to deliver justice to the bereaved families,” Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC, said in Geneva.
Myanmar (also known as Burma or Brahmadesh) is witnessing a series of unpleasant incidents since February 1, 2021 military coup that deposed the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypyitaw, where the media fraternity also faces unprecedented atrocities. The military personnel detained nearly 125 journalists in the last 11 months and nearly 30 are still behind bars.
Afghanistan emerged as the most dangerous country for journalists with 12 casualties in 2021, followed by Mexico (10 dead), Pakistan (7), India (6), the Philippines, Yemen (4 each), Democratic Republic of Congo (3), Myanmar, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Azerbaijan, Turkey (2 each), etc.
India has otherwise lost a huge number of scribes to Covid-19 complications since March 2020, only following Brazil (294 corona-media casualties). India (279) is followed by Peru (198), Mexico (122), Colombia (79), Bangladesh (68), USA (66), Italy (60), Indonesia (42), Pakistan (27), and Nepal (23).
*Nava Thakuria is a senior journalist and Asia representative of PEC.
