Myanmar journalists associations issue statement on the arrest of Reuters reporters Skip to main content

Myanmar journalists associations issue statement on the arrest of Reuters reporters

By Mizzima On Thursday, 14 December 2017

A number of Myanmar Journalist organisations have issued a statement in response to the arrest of two Reuters correspondents, Thet Oo Maung, aka Wa Lone, and Kyaw Soe Oo, aka Moe Aung, who were arrested on the 12 December under section 3 of the Myanmar Official Secrets Act.

The statement, issued by Myanmar Journalists Association, Myanmar Journalist Network, Myanmar Journalist Union, Burma News International, Myanmar Women Journalists Society, Myanmar Media Lawyers’ Network, Myae Latt Journalist Network, Myanmar Journalist Network (Ayarwaddy), Lashio Reporters Group, Myanmar Journalist Network (Monywa), Taunggyi Journalist Association, and the Arakan Journalist Association, says

“We believe that reporters have the right to visit sources of news and also the right to collect and question facts relating to such news for the sake of presenting accurate and correct stories.

Though we accept some of the facts collected should not be disseminated into the public domain as they might threaten state security, accusing reporters of violating the Myanmar Official Secrets Act is a threat to the freedom of press.

We, media organizations, see the arrest of reporters under the archaic Myanmar Official Secrets Act, drafted and enacted in 1923 by British colonial masters, with the intention of suppressing and oppressing their subjects, is an act tarnishing the image of the democratic government.

Furthermore, the current arrest of the two reporters may damage the dignity of the government in which is already under intense media criticism by international media regarding the Rakhine affair.

We are very concerned about the alleged denial of access to the detained reporters by family members, and we are worried about the violation of their fundamental rights.

We, media organizations, demand the authorities to explain this incident with full transparency and release these detained reporters as soon as possible.”

http://www.mizzima.com/news-domestic/myanmar-journalists-associations-issue-statement-arrest-reuters-reporters
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thai penis whitening trend raises eyebrows

Image copyright LELUXHOSPITAL Image caption Authorities warn the procedure could be quite painful A supposed trend of penis whitening has captivated Thailand in recent days and left it asking if the country's beauty industry is taking things too far. Skin whitening is nothing new in many Asian countries, where darker skin is often associated with outdoor labour, therefore, being poorer. But even so, when a clip of a clinic's latest intriguing procedure was posted online, it quickly went viral. Thailand's health ministry has since issued a warning over the procedure. The BBC Thai service spoke to one patient who had undergone the treatment, who told them: "I wanted to feel more confident in my swimming briefs". The 30-year-old said his first session of several was two months ago, and he had since seen a definite change in the shade. 'What for?' The original Facebook post from the clinic offering the treatment, which uses lasers to break do...
1 comment
Read more

Ancient Rakhine City of Mrauk-U Proposed for UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Irrawaddy YANGON—Myanmar’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture submitted the final draft of its nomination for Mrauk-U to become a World Heritage Site to UNESCO on Monday, four months after the ministry submitted the first draft of its nomination in September 2019. If the application succeeds, Mrauk-U will be the third place in Myanmar to be inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after the ancient cities of Bagan and Pyu. Mrauk-U is located in northern Rakhine State, around 60 km from the state capital of Sittwe. The ancient city was the seat of Arakanese kings from the 1400s until the late 1700s. At the height of their power, they controlled an area covering large parts of eastern Bengal, modern-day Rakhine State and the western part of central Myanmar. Much of the city’s remains are well-preserved and some 380 historic temples are scattered between the lush hills of northern Rakhine. Mrauk-U Heritage Trust chairwoman Daw Khin Than told The Irrawaddy on Tue...
1 comment
Read more

Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera

The Life Story of A Distinguished And Outstanding Bhikkhu The Most Venerable Saradawpharagree Sri Bhaddanta Chandramani Mahathera The Buddhist missionary Saradaw Ashin U Chandramani was endowed with great gifts and led a famous and long life. He was a very well known, distinguished and outstanding Bhikkhu Mahathera. While living in the Kushinagar Monastery, a place close to where the Lord Buddha had passed away to Nirvana, the Government of India had offered, and he had accepted, the highest, most honourable and respected title "Guru Guru MahaGuru". He became the first ever President of all Buddhists in India.A World Buddhist Conference took place in Kathmandu during the reign of King Mahindra of Nepal. The Conference was very well attended by over one hundred thousand Buddhists from various parts of the world and it was opened by King Mahindra himself. As requested by the King, Saradawpharagree blessed all the participants with the power of Triple Gems...
Post a Comment
Read more