Nava Thakuria, 10 April 2022

Geneva, Switzerland: As the dictators of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) and military courtscontinue to detain and imprison journalists,Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) expresses annoyance over the military junta’s actions.

The Geneva-based global media safety & rights body urges the internationalcommunity to support the Burmese mediafraternity at this time of crisis.

Local media outlets report that three journalists were imprisoned by the court under sedition charges in thefirst week of April 2022.

Ma Lwe AmPhaung, a female television scribe at Shwe Phee Myay news agency of Shan State was imprisoned on7 April. Another Shan State-basedjournalist Khaing Myint Tun (alias Shwe Lin Thit) was sentenced to jail  same day by the court. Earlier on 5April, a Mandalay-based scribe WinNaing Oo was imprisoned by the court.

Days back, freelance journalists Zaw Linn Htut (alias PhoeThar), Myanmar Heraldreporter  Ye Yint Tun, MFP news agency video editor Aung Zaw Zaw, Mizzima News correspondent Than Htike Aung,Kamayut media news agency founderHan Thar Nyein, etc were sentenced to jailfor  opposing the military dictatorship in Myanmar.

More than 130 journalistshave been detained since the 1 February coup and 50 are still behind the bars.

“Journalists across Myanmar have been forced into hiding asthe military rulers of Naypyidaw continue its anti-mediacrackdown. Even though the juntaargues that they are working under the guidelines of prescribed laws, the protesting voices have been targeted by themenm in uniform,” saidBlaise Lampen, president of PEC (https://pressemblem.ch).

PEC’s south-east Asia representative Nava Thakuria informedthat the military junta has madeit very difficult for the professional journalistsin Myanmar. The generals have forgotten to respect the press and gone with all negative activities like cancellingpermits of many media outlets andpersonally targeting the active media workers, some of whom had even left for neighbouring countries.