Htet Aung, a journalist associated with the Development Media Group, has been held in pre-trial detention in Sittwe Prison in Rakhine, Myanmar. Detained since October 29, 2023, he was later charged under section 52(a) of The Counter Terrorism Law and section 65 of The Telecommunications Law, accusations that can impose maximum penalties of twelve years. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged authorities to drop all charges and release Aung, pointing towards the hostile and daunting climate journalists are facing amidst Myanmar’s political landscape.
Development Media Group is known for its coverage of sensitive news in Rakhine, an area that stands out as a hub of conflict in Myanmar. The ruling junta in the state is faced with heavy criticism and opposition, with their actions impacting the minority Rohingya Muslim community the most. Incidents, such as the killing of 23 Rohingya villagers in a bombing raid, have further escalated tensions in the region.
Htet Aung’s arrest was accompanied by a simultaneous raid on the news agency’s bureau, seizure of equipment, and internment of the staff. Actions like these, which provoke fear and impede journalism, have drawn attention to the harrowing experiences and threats media persons encounter. Such conditions are referred to by UNESCO as “zones of silence”, areas where the threat of physical attacks, detainment, confiscation of equipment, and denial of access to reporting sites leads to a significant decline in journalistic practice.
CPJ’s 2023 prison census revealed Myanmar as the second-highest country for imprisoning journalists, often without explaining the charges against them or facing dangerous conditions. Additionally, the CPJ in February called on the Myanmar government to thoroughly investigate the torturous killing of Democratic Voice of Burma journalist Myat Thu Tan, whose body was found in a bomb shelter in a military camp in Rakhine.
In the light of these unfolding events, the CPJ and other international bodies are actively advocating for an end to legal suppression targeted at journalists in Myanmar. Senior Southeast Asia representative of CPJ, Shawn Crispin, has called on authorities to immediately release Htet Aung from detention and to stop leveling false charges against journalists for merely doing their jobs of reporting.