Myanmar / Asia

Myanmar has catapulted in the rankings of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual census of jailed journalists, the repressive upshot of a democracy-suspending February 1 coup that saw authorities suppress news coverage of their harsh clampdown on anti-military protesters. At least 26 journalists were imprisoned in Myanmar for their reporting as of December 1, compared with…

Bangkok, December 7, 2021 – Myanmar authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalists Kaung Sett Lin and Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, who were arrested after sustaining injuries covering anti-military protests, and ensure that those responsible for injuring the journalists are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities arrested photojournalist…

November 19, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) paid tribute Thursday to brave journalists from Guatemala, Mozambique, and Myanmar by presenting them with CPJ’s 2021 International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) in New York. CPJ also honored Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. “The journalists we are honoring…

Washington, D.C., November 15, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that U.S. journalist Danny Fenster was released from prison in Myanmar today and has left the country. “The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of American journalist Danny Fenster from prison in Myanmar, where he has been unjustly held for nearly six…

Bangkok, November 12, 2021 – A Myanmar court today sentenced American journalist Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison on multiple charges including incitement, unlawful association, and visa violations, according to news reports. The trial was held at Yangon’s Insein Prison, where Fenster is being detained, and was closed to the press and public, the Associated Press reported….

Washington, D.C., November 10, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned over news reports that Myanmar prosecutors have lodged additional criminal charges against journalist Danny Fenster. Fenster has been detained since his arrest on May 24 at the Yangon airport as he was leaving the country, as CPJ documented at the time….

Bangkok, October 25, 2021 – Myanmar’s military junta should immediately follow up its recent release of at least 15 jailed journalists by freeing all those still wrongfully held in detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 18, the country’s military government announced the release of over 5,600 prisoners in an amnesty on…

Bangkok, August 23, 2021 – Myanmar authorities should immediately release journalists Htet Htet Khine and Sithu Aung Myint and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 15, military authorities in Yangon arrested Htet Htet Khine, a freelance producer for BBC Media Action, and Sithu Aung Myint, a columnist…

CPJ calls for targeted international sanctions  New York, July 28, 2021—In the months since Myanmar’s military seized power in a February 1 coup, the country has become one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in a special mid-year survey published today.  The report and accompanying prison census, “Bitter…

Myanmar’s junta has effectively criminalized independent journalism, arresting and charging journalists, closing news outlets, restricting access for international reporters, and driving journalists underground or into exile. Within a few months of the February military coup, the country has become one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists. A CPJ special report by Shawn W. Crispin…