July 1, 2024
The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) has strongly condemned the military junta’s sentencing of Development Media Group (DMG) journalist Htet Aung and office staff member Soe Win Aung to five years in prison. This sentencing, handed down by the Sittwe Township Court on June 28, 2024, has sparked widespread outrage among the journalism community.
Htet Aung was arrested on October 29, 2023, while covering the Thadingyut Festival at Wingaba Square in Sittwe. On the same night, the military raided the DMG office and arrested night duty staff member Soe Win Aung. The two were charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.
In a statement released on June 30, IMJA urged the immediate release of all detained journalists and the cessation of targeting media professionals. The organization emphasized that the actions of the military junta constitute grave violations of press freedom and human rights.
“IMJA is documenting all abuses committed against journalists by the military regime and is working to present these violations to the international community,” said IMJA Chairman Ko Kyaw Kyaw Min. “The journalists at DMG were simply doing their jobs, providing news and information to the public. Arresting and imprisoning journalists, raiding media offices, and attempting to silence the press are the real crimes here. These actions are part of the junta’s efforts to conceal their own war crimes and genocidal acts. IMJA condemns these actions in the strongest terms and demands the immediate, unconditional release of all detained journalists.”
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the junta has killed five journalists and detained 176. IMJA’s statement underscores the need for international pressure on the junta to stop its crackdown on the press and respect the rights of journalists.
The statement concludes with a call for the global community to recognize and act against the junta’s violations, ensuring accountability for the continued suppression of media freedom in Myanmar.
