DILI (TOP) – Delegates at the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) World Congress have raised the issue of human rights violations and asked the Myanmar government to protect the safety of journalists.
The inaugural Congress of the Federation of Asia Pacific Journalists (FAPaJ) meeting in Muscat, Oman, on 31st May 2022
IFJ affiliates Timor-Leste Press Union (TLPU), Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI), Sindikasi, CJA, NUJP and NUJM express alarm at the high rate of violence against journalists and civilians during the military junta regime in power.
Since the 2021 military coup, journalists in Myanmar reportedly had difficulty accessing information and statements from sources. Likewise, communication with local journalists in Myanmar is also a struggle because of the alleged restrictions on internet access by the Military Junta.
In addition, journalists in Myanmar received pressure and intimidation, both physical and non-physical.
From February 2021 coup to March 31, 2022, at least 122 journalists and media staff have been arrested, including foreign media journalists from the Associated Press (AP) and the BBC reporting on conditions in Myanmar, 48 of them are currently detained, and 22 convicted. There was also a journalist who died in the custody.
Journalists were arrested for having social media on their phones and accessing virtual private networks (VPN). The regime charged 45 journalists and media staff with violating Section 505(a) of the Penal Code (a new provision that criminalizes comments that “cause fear”, spread “false news or agitates directly or indirectly a criminal offense against a Government employee”). Furthermore, 12 media houses have been charged under Section 505 (a) of Myanmar’s penal code, had their licenses revoked, or both.
The military regime has also banned social media including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as well as shut internet regularly over the last years; making access of information difficult. In addition, the regime has drafted a new cybersecurity law to jail anyone accessing banned sites through virtual private networks.
Information restrictions have led to no balanced coverage while the situation in Myanmar is deteriorating. Civil wars rage across the country. The UN refugee agency UNHCR announced in February the number of internally displaced people has been crossing the 800,000.
These actions are of course a violation of the rights to freedom of the press and expression, as well as a suppression of the right to information that must be received by the public.
For this reason, we encourage the IFJ to call on governments around the world, especially countries that are members of ASEAN, to reject the military junta. Countries must not give space for human rights violence to journalists and civilians.
In addition, IFJ must press the military junta to guarantee the protection and safety of journalists in covering political developments in Myanmar, as well as to stop acts of violence and arrests against journalists and civilians.
