June 28, 2024

The Sittwe Township Court, under the military junta, has sentenced Development Media Group (DMG) journalist Htet Aung and office worker Soe Win Aung to five years in prison with hard labor, according to a statement from DMG.

The charges were brought by Police Captain Bo Bo Kyaw from Sittwe Police Station No.1. Besides Htet Aung and Soe Win Aung, 18 other DMG staff members have been charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law and are considered fugitives.

Htet Aung was arrested on October 29, 2023, while covering the Thadingyut festival at the Wingabar field in Sittwe. On the same day, military forces raided the DMG office, arresting night guard Soe Win Aung, confiscating equipment, and shutting down the office.

The court handed down the sentences nearly eight months after their arrest, under accusations related to counter-terrorism.

In response, DMG has condemned the unjust sentencing of its two employees and called on international governments and organizations to pressure the military junta to release all journalists currently detained under various charges across the country.