A military court in Myanmar has recently sentenced a local journalist to life in prison and another journalist to 20 years behind bars under a counterterrorism law, according to their editor. Myo Myint Oo and Aung San Oo from Dawei Watch, an independent online news service, received these sentences, which are among the harshest penalties handed to journalists since the military took control from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. This power shift led to armed resistance and a continuing civil war.
Myanmar ranks 171st out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, making it one of the world’s most significant jailers of journalists following China. The country has seen a crackdown on independent media since the military takeover, with many journalists facing arrests and harsh sentences.
The two journalists, Myo Myint Oo and Aung San Oo, were arrested in December last year in Myeik and later sentenced under the Counterterrorism Law. While exact details surrounding their convictions remain unclear, it is known that they were accused of incitement and involvement in activities related to terrorism.
The Chief Editor of Dawei Watch revealed that a total of five reporters and a columnist from their media outlet have been arrested by the military regime, with three of them released since then. Media organizations in Myanmar now operate cautiously, with many working semi-clandestinely to evade arrest, while others work from abroad.
Dawei Watch, on its Facebook page, condemned the unjust arrest and detention of its journalists by the military government and demanded their immediate release. The crackdown on media workers in Myanmar has led to the death and torture of several journalists, as well as the revocation of licenses for multiple media outlets.
The severe sentences imposed on these journalists are part of a broader pattern aimed at instilling fear among reporters and suppressing independent media in Myanmar, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The situation in Myanmar underscores the grave risks faced by journalists and the challenging environment for press freedom under the military rule.