IMJA condemns junta’s killing of two journalists in Mon State

By Admin 23 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 August 2024, Sittwe

The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) on Friday condemned the killing of two journalists in Mon State’s Kyaikto Township, and pushed back on those labelling them as anti-regime fighters.

The two freelancers, 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 Wednesday.

Ko Htet Myat Thu was arrested and jailed by the regime in the aftermath of its 2021 coup, and had secretly worked as a journalist after he was released from prison. Ko Win Htut Oo was staying at Ko Htet Myat Thu’s house at the time of the junta raid in which they were killed. He was in hiding as the regime had opened a case against him for alleged incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

A resident and a resistance fighter who were at Ko Htet Myat Thu’s house were also reportedly killed by junta soldiers during the raid.

Pro-junta Telegram channels have portrayed the two journalists as armed insurgents.

IMJA said in its statement: “Even in the early days after the coup when the armed revolution was not yet strong, the regime repeatedly spread propaganda that journalists were arrested along with weapons.”

The regime has imposed a crackdown on media since the putsch, forcing many media outlets into exile or hiding. It has killed seven journalists and arrested at least 177 others since the coup.

“The military regime, which is losing on multiple fronts, harbours grudges against those reporting on the real situation,” one veteran journalist from Arakan State told DMG. “The regime is therefore targeting them to prevent them from revealing its violence. The international community must take action against the regime.”

The IMJA called on the regime to stop arresting and killing journalists, and immediately release all detained journalists. It also urged foreign governments and international agencies including the United Nations to effectively put pressure on the junta and take action against it.

“The killing of journalists Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu is an atrocity against the free press and must not go unpunished,” said Shawn Crispin, senior Southeast Asia representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international press advocacy organisation. “Myanmar authorities must ensure swift and full justice for the country’s independent journalists who are being killed simply for reporting the news.”