Myanmar: Media organisations shut down by military, offices raided- 35 srrested

KalimNews, PR, 11 March 21 : Media organisations across Myanmar were ordered to close by the Myanmar Military Council on Monday, March 8 including Myanmar Now who had their offices raided that night. The IFJ condemns the Myanmar Now raid and urge the military to allow the media to operate without interference.

Soldiers and police raided local media outlet Myanmar Now’s headquarters, seizing computers and part of the newsroom’s data server, among other equipment. The publication, which has provided extensive coverage of the protests and regularly scrutinised the military, evacuated their offices on January 28 as a precautionary measure, due to the possibility of a coup intensifying. It is the first targeted attack on a media publication since the February 1 coup, on a day which also saw the storming of hospitals by authorities.

On March 8, five major media outlets also had their licenses cancelled in Myanmar, all of which have provided extensive coverage of the ongoing coup. These companies – including Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7DayNews are “no longer allowed to broadcast or write or give information by using any kind of media platform or using any media technology”, announced the military.

Since the military coup on February 9, reports estimate between 22 and 25 journalists have been arrested, including media workers from the Associated Press, Myanmar Now and 7Day News. In total, 1,200 citizens have been detained by the junta and at least 50 people killed since February 1 according to the United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar.

In response to the arrest of journalists in Myanmar, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) affiliate, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia and Malaysia's Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) called for international action to end the violence in Myanmar.The joint statement between AJI and Geramm urges Myanmar authorities to immediately release the detained journalists.

AJI and Geramm said: “We call upon the Indonesian and Malaysian government to work together with Asean countries in order to support the United Nations to send its investigation team to Myanmar.”

The IFJ said: “By limiting the information and ability of journalists to report, the true extent of the atrocities committed against journalists and the public remains unknown. The IFJ condemns the renewed attack on journalists and supports the call for the United Nations to send an investigative team to Myanmar to uncover and report on the conditions.”

Myanmar’s military detained two journalists and raided a further two news outlets on March 8 as the military continues its onslaught to quell media coverage of nationwide protests. The IFJ condemns the ongoing attacks on media workers and media organisations in Myanmar and calls for the military to commit to guarantee journalist safety in the country under the crisis.

Kamayut Media’s co-founder, Han Thar Nyein, and editor-in-chief, Nathan Maung, were arrested by the Myanmar military on March 8 during raids of their offices in Yangon. Witnesses reported seven military trucks were involved during the raid on the independent media organisation. The arrests follow the death of a second National League of Democracy (NLD) figure since the military coup began. Zaw Myat Linn, an official from deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party died on Monday 8 in custody in Yangon, following his arrest on Tuesday.

Footage posted to social media showed further raids on Mizzima News and the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) offices after nightfall, also on March 8. The raids followed a raid earlier in the day on Myanmar Now’s offices and extensive media shutdowns ordered by the military, with the five major media outlets’ licenses cancelled, all of which have provided extensive coverage of the ongoing coup. In its announcement, the military said that five news outlets – including both Mizzima News and the Democratic Voice of Burma - were “no longer allowed to broadcast or write or give information by using any kind of media platform or using any media technology”. Despite this, many continue their coverage online.

Media sources have told IFJ that journalists are continuing to perform their professional duties in covering the military coup despite the continued documented aggressive attempts to silence media workers and media operations.

Myanmar Now is reporting at least 35 arrests of journalists since the coup began, with 19 said to be released.

The IFJ said: “The direct attack on journalists and media outlets in Myanmar is cause for extreme concern by the IFJ. The IFJ condemns the recent arrests of journalists and calls for a focus on the protection of media freedom during the worsening situation of the military coup. The IFJ implores the military to respect the rights of journalists and release all journalists currently detained."