journalists Ko Aung San Oo(left) and Ko Myo Myint Oo (Right)
Mizzima
Two journalists from the Dawei Watch News Agency were arrested by the junta on the evening of 11 December, according to family and friends.
The journalists, Ko Aung San Oo and Ko Myo Myint Oo were arrested at their homes in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region.
Ko Aung San Oo’s wife said: “On the night of 11 December, soldiers and ward administrators surrounded our home and apprehended my husband. During the arrest, they alleged that my husband was involved in news writing. They seized my husband’s laptop and confiscated three family members’ phones.”
After Ko Aung San Oo’s arrest, Ko Myo Myint Oo was arrested at his house, in Zeyarthiri (4) Quarter, by five soldiers dressed in civilian clothes. According to Myint Oo’s mother, they arrived in two cars claiming that they were carrying out an overnight guest inspection.
As of 13 December, the time of reporting, friends and family of the two arrested journalists had still not been able to contact the men or find out their whereabouts.
The editor-in-chief of Dawei Watch said: “We reported today that two of our journalists have been arrested. We have reached out to their family members and we are currently investigating their whereabouts, but as of now, we have not received a definitive answer. The latest information we have indicates that they are being held and questioned at an interrogation centre.”
Dawei Watch holds a news media licence. It said that there is no legal basis for the arrests and that writing news is not a crime. Despite this, the junta apprehended its journalists without a warrant in the middle of the night and refused to disclose the location where they are being held.
During the arrests, the junta also seized two laptops and phones belonging to the journalists and their families.
Dawei Watch has called for the immediate release of the journalists saying that their detention. and interrogation is against the law.
