Mizzima
The New Myanmar Foundation has issued a statement on human rights to mark World Press Freedom Day on 3 May 2024.
The following is the statement:
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) explicitly affirms that everyone possesses an innate right to freedom of expression by stating that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Similarly, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) stipulates that “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference.” Moreover, regarding how people may express their opinions, Article 19(2) of the ICCPR clearly states that “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression” and that “this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establish that the right to freedom of expression is an inherent and inalienable right of everyone while also serving as a pivotal political right for all citizens. Myanmar was one of the earliest signatories of the UDHR. However, for the people of Myanmar, who have endured a series of illegitimate military regimes since the 1962 coup, the freedom of expression which was a fundamental human right, was unattainable.
In the wake of the 2021 coup, the military junta sought to target pro-democracy protestors and dissidents using various means, including a sustained effort to suppress the people’s freedom of expression. Celebrities, journalists, and ordinary citizens who expressed their opinions through multiple media channels, including social media, newspapers, and radio, were systematically arrested, interrogated, and tortured. Since the military coup, the military regime has continued to undermine media freedom and violate the human rights of journalists in the country. Myanmar is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2022 World Press Freedom Index. Myanmar’s military authorities are restricting access to social media, the internet, and other independent sources of information. The junta has banned or forced media outlets to leave Myanmar for reporting on the actions of the military, whereas many of the banned media outlets played a fundamental role in reporting the situation in Myanmar. People of Myanmar and those abroad rely heavily on these media. There have been multiple reports of arrest, torture, abuse, and killing of journalists. At least 4 journalists have been killed, 140 journalists have been arrested, 53 media workers are currently being held in Myanmar’s prisons and almost 25 journalists have been convicted since the military coup. Myanmar has the world’s second-largest number of journalists in prison. In January 2024, two media press were banned by the ministry of the military regime with the reason of publishing the political literature whereas, over 30 media press were banned after the coup. New Myanmar Foundation (NMF) solemnly announces that we continue to monitor, document, and publish atrocities, and human rights violations against civilians and journalists including political prisoners by the Myanmar military, and that we are striving to contribute to seeking justice for such violations.
In respect of World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind the duty barriers to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we would like to propose the following recommendations for collective actions taken by the international communities to impose pressures to the military regime:
Urges the military junta to immediately end its abuses, including arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, sexual violence and other ill-treatment, as well as unfair trials against journalists and media workers.
Urges the military junta to drop all politically motivated charges against members of the press and media workers, and unconditionally release all journalists unjustly detained.
Calls on the International Delegations in Myanmar and the embassies to closely monitor the cases of journalists who are currently detained and imprisoned, as well as of human rights defenders, political leaders, and others.
Calls for independent international investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment, and for those responsible to be held to account; stresses that any alleged information obtained as a result of torture and ill-treatment should never be admitted as evidence in judicial proceedings.
Asks the diplomatic missions and international donors to offer support and possible protection to human rights defenders and media workers at risk of persecution, including by providing safe for those in need of protection.
Insists that media freedom is vital to the effective functioning of free and democratic societies and is essential to the protection of all other human rights and fundamental freedoms; whereas journalists need a safe environment in which to do their independent work.
