{"id":3285,"date":"2018-10-30T12:49:58","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T06:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/new-site\/?p=3285"},"modified":"2018-12-30T12:54:38","modified_gmt":"2018-12-30T06:24:38","slug":"joint-statement-myanmar-to-immediately-release-journalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/equalitymyanmar.org\/mm\/2018\/10\/30\/joint-statement-myanmar-to-immediately-release-journalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Statement: Myanmar to Immediately Release Journalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

(Bangkok, 12 October 2018) \u2013 The Asian Forum for Human Rights and \nDevelopment (FORUM-ASIA), Equality Myanmar and Progressive Voice condemn\n the recent arrests of three journalists from Eleven Media \u2013 Nayi Min, \nKyaw Zaw Linn and Phyo Wai Win. It is a worrying deterioration of press \nfreedom and freedom of expression in Myanmar. Human rights groups call \non the Government of Myanmar to immediately release the three \njournalists and urge the authorities to refrain from further suppression\n of press freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three journalists were arrested after Aung Kyaw Khine, a Director\n in the Yangon Regional Government, filed a complaint with police over \nthe alleged violation of Section 505(b) of the Penal Code which \npenalises \u2018whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumor \nor report with intent to cause (\u2026) fear or alarm to the public or to any\n section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an \noffense against the state or against the public tranquility.\u2019 If found \nguilty, they could face up to two years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The complaint was filed over an article published on 8 October by \nPhyo Wai Win criticising Yangon Regional Government\u2019s business ventures,\n including a public private partnership which involves Regional \nMinisters as shareholders. This is not the first time that Eleven Media,\n the largest private newspaper in the country, is facing such attack. U \nThan Htut Aung, its Executive Director and U Wai Phyo, its Senior Editor\n were arrested in late 2016 for an alleged violation of Section 66(d) of\n the Telecommunications Law over an editorial that implied corrupt \ndealings involving a Chief Minister.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is only the latest in a long series of cases brought against the\n media under vague and outdated laws in an attempt to muffle criticism \nagainst the Government. Myanmar has been sliding in the World Press \nFreedom Index, ranking 137th<\/sup> out of 180 countries in 2018.[2]<\/a> It\n enforces repressive laws that have been used to target human rights \ndefenders, journalists and critics. Last month, Reuters journalists Wa \nLone and Kyaw Soe Oo were sentenced to seven years\u2019 imprisonment under \nthe Official Secrets Act for investigating a massacre in Rakhine State.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human rights groups FORUM-ASIA, Equality Myanmar and Progressive \nVoice urge the Myanmar Government to immediately release Nayi Min, Kyaw \nZaw Linn and Phyo Wai Win and drop all charges against them. Myanmar \nmust abide by international human rights standards on the upholding of \nfreedom of expression and revoke repressive laws used to target \ndefenders, journalists and critics. Myanmar\u2019s transition from the \nmilitary regime to the quasi-civilian Government raised hopes of a new \ndemocratic rule in the country \u2013 hopes that have remained unfulfilled. \nHuman rights groups call on the regional and the international community\n to hold Myanmar and its leaders accountable to this vision of Myanmar, \nwhere fundamental freedoms prevail, and the rights of all are respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For further information, please contact:<\/p>\n\n\n\n