ARTICLE 19 and Assistance Association for Myanmar-Based Independent Journalists (AAMIJ) thank the High Commissioner for his report and the Special Rapporteur for his oral update. It has now been over four years since the coup, and the Myanmar military’s onslaught on media freedom shows no signs of abating. Yet, as High Commissioner eloquently notes in his report, journalists and media workers continue their courageous work shining a spotlight on the dire human rights situation. “Without them, the crisis could have been forgotten”.
Currently, at least 60 journalists remain in jail across the country. In February, Than Htike Myint was arrested as his wife was due to give birth. After seven days of interrogation – where he was subjected to beatings – he was charged and eventually sentenced to five years in prison under the Counter-Terrorism Law which has been routinely used to target and silence journalists and other civil society actors. Than Htike Myint is emblematic of the dire consequences faced by journalists for shedding light on the human rights crisis.
For Myanmar’s media, US government-sourced funding was a lifeline. This end to US government-funded grants is a major blow on top of the severe human rights violations journalists face. Radio Free Asia and Voice of America – which provided consistent coverage of the human rights crisis – have been shut down. Without financial viability, journalists and media workers cannot continue their vital work.
We urge all States dedicated to media freedom to continue to vocally condemn all attacks on journalists and media workers in the country, as well as to address the financial viability of media organisations through funding and other forms of support.