Advocacy group Athan calls for release of Myanmar’s detained journalists on World Press Freedom Day

03 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
3 May 2022, Sittwe 

The free expression advocacy group Athan called for the immediate release of 61 journalists in Myanmar who have been arrested since the military coup and remain detained as World Press Freedom Day was marked across the globe on May 3.  

In a statement, Athan lauded journalists that it said are working hard to bring truth to the people of Myanmar and the world, despite the military regime’s targeted attacks against them. 

Since the military coup, 156 journalists have been arrested and 95 have been released, but 61 remain in custody, the free expression advocacy group said, importantly noting that three journalists were killed. 

“The loss of the rights of journalists is a threat at the source of democracy, freedom of expression,” Athan said in the statement. 

Myanmar’s current situation reflects not only a loss of journalists’ right to freedom of information and the dissemination of that information, but also a violation of the basic human rights of society as a whole, Athan said. 

“Due to the loss of journalists, some media outlets have had their licences revoked and others have been shut down due to the risk of arrest. Not only is there a risk of losing journalists, but there is a 70 percent risk of being arrested for threatening journalists. It also depends on what reporters report,” said U Myint Kyaw, a veteran Myanmar journalist. 

The United Nations designated May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993. It has since been celebrated annually by journalists and those who value freedom of information around the world.