Kyaw Zaw Linn, the editor-in-charge at Eleven Media, walks out of Tamwe court in Yangon, Myanmar, October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ann Wang
OCTOBER 26th 2018
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
Journalists in Myanmar released on bail, arrested for negative government article
Three journalists have been freed on bail last Friday in Myanmar, having been initially arrested for having written an article for Eleven Media, the country’s biggest and most renowned newspaper, about a controversy in the government’s spending. They are only three of the many, many journalists who had been arrested in the country over recent months.
The arrested men, having been apprehended on the 10th of October following a government complaint, are chief reporter Phyo Wai Win, along with Kyaw Zaw Lin and Nayi Min, both editors for Eleven Media. Many questions previously asked already have once again been prompted, regarding media freedom in Myanmar, especially concerning the recently arrested Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, arrested in December after reporting on the massacre of Rohingya Muslims.
Judge Tin War War Thein, the judge who had made the final decision on releasing the journalists on bail, explained that the three did not pose any sort of flight risk, and didn’t feel their charges were severe enough to warrant harsh treatment, stating; “The punishment for the section is not a life sentence but two years maximum, and the accused are working at a journal based in Tamwe township, so they have no reason to run away.”
To be specific, the journalists can expect to face charges of Myanmar’s colonial-era penal code, under Section 505 (b), which prohibits anyone from publicising information that could “cause fear or alarm”, or disorder the “public tranquillity”, which does indeed mean they could face a maximum of 2 years in prison, for publishing the article questioning government’s spending.
Phyo Wai Win himself said; “As a reporter, I wrote my articles based on true information,” after walking out of Yangon’s Tamwe township courthouse on Friday, with yet another hearing due on the 9th of November.
It is being frequently repeated by human rights activists that ever since Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi; of the National League for Democracy party, had taken power back in 2016, allowing for a constitution that kept the military power involved in politics of the country. Ever since her administration had taken hold over Myanmar, 28 journalists have all been faced with charges regarding articles or investigations, according to Athan; a freedom of expression group.
According to a media report last week, the President of Myanmar; Win Myint had ordered authorities to settle the problem through negotiation along with the country’s Press Council, in which case, the entire circumstance would need to, first and foremost, be dismissed. Regarding this, the defence lawyer, Kyee Myint, said “According to that instruction, the Yangon regional government should have dismissed the case today.”
By Patryk Krych | The World Daily
