Rakhine-based journalists have expressed heightened concern
for their safety following the Military Council troops' raid on the office of
the Development Media Group (DMG) in Sittwe Township, where they arrested a
reporter and a night watchman.
The arrest of a journalist in the line of duty reflects the
precarious and risky working conditions that Rakhine-based journalists face, a
Rakhine journalist told Narinjara.
"It's evident that the Military Council is increasingly
targeting journalists. The arrest of a journalist covering a religiously
significant event, rather than a political protest, underscores the Junta’s
strong animosity towards journalists, and this raises the risk for all
Rakhine-based reporters”, he said.
A female reporter from Rakhine State also suggested that there
is a growing belief that the Rakhine State Military Council is prepared to
apprehend journalists at any place and time, which there is a heightened risk
faced by field reporters.
"The arrest of a field reporter means other reporters
might think twice about covering certain issues on the ground. This could lead
to fewer field reports. Even when news breaks, reporters may hesitate to go
immediately, which seems to align with the Military Council's goals. When
reporters gather information first-hand, the news tends to be more accurate. If
field reporting is restricted, it could impact the accuracy of the news.
Exploiting this, the Military Council might control information dissemination
more effectively”, she elaborated.
In addition to the raid on DMG's office, the Military Council
has also confiscated computers, cameras, and bank account books, while sealing
off the premises.
Soldiers arrested DMG reporter Ko Htet Aung during his
coverage of a food donation ceremony for Buddhist monks at Winkapa Plaza in
Sittwe Township on October 29th, and DMG has issued a statement stating that
the reasons for his arrest are currently under investigation.
Following the DMG office raid, journalists from both the DMG
and other Rakhine-based news outlets are preemptively avoiding potential risks.
“This act stifles media freedom and the people's right to the
truth, which should never happen. In Rakhine State, DMG is a trusted news
source that prioritizes accuracy and comprehensive reporting from various
perspectives. It's disheartening to see a media outlet like DMG, which strives
to present a balanced view of the government (Military Council) and the other
side (resistance movement), facing such treatment. It's akin to forcibly
shutting the eyes and ears of the local communities. DMG has also endured
significant losses due to this situation, making it extremely challenging to
continue reporting. The raid has sent shockwaves through the entire news
world”, an official of DMG told Narinjara.
In 2019, DMG's editor-in-chief, U Aung Min Oo, was previously
charged by the Rakhine State Military Council under Section 17-2 of the
Unlawful Associations Act. In 2021 an executive editor and a reporter from DMG
faced charges under Section 66(D) of the Telecommunications Act.
During May and October of last year, the editor-in-chief and a
reporter from another Rakhine-based media outlet, Narinjara, were charged by
the Military Council under Section 505(A) and Section 66(D) of the
Telecommunications Act.
In another case on January 22nd 2022, the editor-in-chief and
a reporter from the Rakhine-based news outlet, Western News, were
charged with treason and sedition under Section 124-A by the Military Council's
Major Bhone Myint Kyaw.
At present, Rakhine-based media outlets are unable to
establish permanent office spaces to evade the targeted oppression of the
Military Council, and they are operating solely in a mobile capacity.
The incident that precipitated the raid on DMG office involved
Military Council soldiers coercing the captured journalist to lead them to his
workplace, subsequently gaining access to the office. This has intensified the
concerns of all Rakhine-based journalists.