Dawei Watch reporters sentenced to lengthy prison terms on terrorism charges

By Admin 28 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
28 August 2024, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region

Two Myeik-based reporters working for Dawei Watch were sentenced to long prison terms in February and May of this year.

The two Myeik-based reporters were charged under Section 50(j), Section 52(a), and Section 52(b) of the Counter-Terrorism Law on December 11, 2023.

A military tribunal sentenced Ko Myo Myint Oo to life imprisonment on May 15 and Ko Aung Hsan Oo to 20 years in prison on February 16, Dawei Watch said in a statement on August 27.

Dawei Watch said in the statement that the reason for the prison sentence and the details of the sentence were not disclosed, nor was the news outlet allowed to enquire about the process by which the judgement was made.

"We have not been allowed to meet the duo since their arrest. We were allowed to make a prison visit to Myeik Prison after the two men were jailed. We had no legal protection for either of them," said Ko Kyaw, an official from Dawei Watch.

Dawei Watch said it strongly opposes the regime's illegal arrest and detention of journalists, and punishing them without giving them the opportunity to defend themselves in accordance with the law.

"Dawei Watch journalists Aung San Oo and Myo Myint Oo's lengthy sentences on terrorism-related charges are senselessly harsh and must be reversed," said Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists. "These types of extreme court rulings aim to instill fear among all reporters and will have a chilling effect across Myanmar's independent media."

Two freelancer journalists, Ko Win Htut Oo and Ko Htet Myat Thu, were killed by junta soldiers at the latter's home in Letpya Village, Kyaikto Township, on August 21.

"Because of the regime's actions like this, the entire people and the entire media industry are very hurt. Journalists are not criminals," said DMG chief editor U Aung Marm Oo. "Journalists are the ones who report the problems, hardships and injustices people are facing. Arresting and torturing journalists on purpose is a deplorable act."

The regime has killed seven journalists and arrested at least 177 others since the coup, according to figures compiled by the Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA).