Myanmar’s junta has reportedly jailed two Tanintharyi-based Dawei Watch journalists.
Ko Myo Myint Oo and Ko Aung San Oo were detained at their Myeik town home in Tanintharyi Region on December 11 last year.
A military court sentenced them without informing their families of the charges.
Ko Kyaw, chief editor of Dawei Watch, said relatives who were allowed to visit reported that Ko Myo Myint Oo was given a life sentence in May and Ko Aung San Oo was jailed for 20 years in February.
“Troops raiding the house said they were being arrested for being journalists,” he said.
Both were tortured during four days of interrogation in Myeik prison and their laptops and phones were seized.
Ko Myo Myint Oo started as a Dawei Watch journalist in 2013 and Ko Aung San Oo joined in 2017, Ko Kyaw said. He added that their sentences were attempts to crush the freedom of speech.
Dawei Watch mainly focuses on Tanintharyi news.
“There is no organization to protect Myanmar’s journalists,” Ko Kyaw added.
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has become one of the worst countries in the world for jailing journalists.
U Toe Zaw Latt of the Independent Press Council of Myanmar said the regime is increasingly trying to jail journalists as it prepares for a general election next year.
“Long-term imprisonment and killing journalists is a war crime. We hope to bring those responsible to justice,” he said.
The council reported that more than 170 journalists have been arrested, seven killed, three given life sentences and over 60 remain behind bars since the 2021 coup.
The junta sentenced journalist and documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe to life in prison on terrorism charges in January and Myanmar Now’s photojournalist Sai Zaw was sentenced to 20 years for his coverage of Cyclone Mocha in September last year.
Last week regime troops reportedly executed Win Htut Oo of the Democratic Voice of Burma and freelancer Htet Myat Thu at a house in Kyaikto Township, Mon State.
