Two detained Dawei Watch reporters face terrorism charges

By Admin 29 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
29 December 2023, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region

Two Myeik-based reporters working for Dawei Watch who were detained by Myanmar’s military regime on December 11 have reportedly been charged under Section 50(j), Section 52(a), and Section 52(b) of the Counterterrorism Law.

Junta soldiers arrested Ko Aung Hsan Oo and Ko Myo Myint Oo at their homes on December 11, interrogated the two men at the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 103, and transferred the duo to Myeik Prison on December 14.

The regime filed a lawsuit against the men under the three sections of the Counterterrorism Law on December 26, according to a source close to Myeik Prison.

“The military filed a lawsuit against U Aung Hsan Oo under Section 52(a), and Section 52(b) of the Counterterrorism Law and Ko Myo Myint Oo under Section 50(j) of the Counterterrorism Law. I don’t know exactly the names of the plaintiffs,” said the source.

The pair were allowed to meet family members at Myeik Prison on December 21, according to family members.

“We were briefly allowed to meet the two men on December 21. We told them to take care of their health,” said a family member of Ko Myo Myint Oo.

Dawei Watch, founded in 2021, is a respected news outlet that operates under a media licence. The news outlet released a statement on December 12 calling for the release of the two detained reporters.

The regime has arrested 156 journalists since the coup, killing four of them. It has also revoked the licences of 15 media organisations. At least 50 journalists remain in prisons across the country.