A new report, released in the week marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (November 2), is pressing Western nations to call on Myanmar authorities to end violations of human rights and press freedom in the country.
The application was made by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), compiled from reports of Burmese journalists and media professionals living under dictatorship or exiled in the country.
The document criticizes what it sees as “inappropriate global action” to reject the 2021 military coup and condemn attacks on Myanmar’s civil society.
Federation says human rights abuses must end in Myanmar
In the report “The Revolution Will Not Be Released – Myanmar: IFJ Status Report 2022”, journalists told the organization how serious human rights violations have escalated in Myanmar since the military junta came to power.
In addition to censoring ordinary citizens, the country’s authorities continue the “constant persecution of journalists and attacks on independent media”, condemning the federation.
The IJF also asks the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to take drastic measures against the junta ahead of the group’s summit from 10-13 November.
To this day, the military continues to show blatant contempt for regional and international efforts to stop arbitrary violence, killing and intimidation against its own people.”
As of November 2, 59 journalists were imprisoned in Myanmar. According to the IJF, at least 2,371 people have been killed by the military since February 2021, including four media professionals.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Global Impunity Index 2022 ranks Myanmar as the eighth worst country in the world for impunity.
Also Read | Day of Impunity for Crimes Against the Press: Federation calls for UN Convention to protect free media
Among the deteriorated freedoms in Myanmar, IFJ emphasized that important steps have been taken in neighboring countries.
In Indonesia, for example, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and other pro-democracy activists petitioned the country’s Supreme Court to allow the courts to prosecute Myanmar human rights abuses through the Indonesian legal system.
“The International Federation of Journalists urges governments, ASEAN, journalists, media outlets and members of civil society to take all possible measures to address the appalling human rights abuses perpetrated by the military junta in Myanmar.
The IFJ stands in solidarity with its Burmese colleagues and commends the country’s media’s courageous work in resisting military dictates, both in Myanmar and in exile, and continuing to report in the face of serious difficulties. ”
Access the full report here.
Journalists jailed in Myanmar
In just one week in October, two more journalists were sentenced to prison by the military junta in Myanmar.
Burmese reporter Sithu Aung Myint, who works for Frontier Myanmar magazine and is a political commentator for Voice of America (VOA), was sentenced to three years in prison after 14 months of precautionary detention.
Two days before Myint was sentenced, Japanese documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Both professionals received charges similar to: BBC freelance journalist Htet Htet Khine sent to jail late last month.
According to international organizations, journalists have become a favorite target of the junta in recent months, which has used loopholes in the law to harass, harass and arrest media professionals.
Also Read | Two more journalists sentenced by military junta in Myanmar
source: Noticias
