Myanmar: CFWIJ Condemns Arrests of Dawei Watch Reporter Ma Moe Myint, Colleagues
Location: Myanmar
Date: January 24, 2022
Myanmar junta authorities arrested Dawei Watch reporter, Ma Moe Myint, and her colleagues from their respective homes late on the night of January 18, 2022. Following the arrests, junta officials also raided the media outlet’s office in the southern Burma region of Tanintharyi and seized documents. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the arrests of employees of the online news website and demands their immediate release.
Dawei Watch reporters Ma Moe Myint and Ko Zaw, and a graphic designer employed by the news outlet, Ko Thar Gyi, were arrested from their respective homes in Dawei city on the night between January 18 and 19. According to Irrawaddy, the news outlet has not been informed of the reasons behind the raids and the arrests. The whereabouts of its arrested employees also remain unclear.
Dawei Watch has been operational since 2012 and has reported extensively on news from South Myanmar. Local news reports stated that the junta officials also carried out a subsequent raid at the offices of the digital news media outlet and seized documents and other materials from the premises.
Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, journalists have been targeted with mass arrests as well as physical violence and abuse. Those reporting on protests against the military junta or critiquing the current regime have been met with brutal force and violence. In the previous year, the CFWIJ documented at least eight cases of women journalists who ran foul with the military junta and were put behind bars.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned for the safety of Ma Moe Myint and her colleagues and demand their immediate release. We condemn the unexplained action taken against the news outlet and its employees. The CFWIJ has reported extensively onviolations in Myanmar following the coup, which include abductions, arbitrary detentions and forced Internet blackouts. The actions of the military junta in Myanmar are deeply reprehensible and in complete violation of basic human rights. We call on the international community to respond to the plight of journalists in Myanmar and protect women journalists, who have fearlessly continued to hold power to account in the country. Read more of our reports on Myanmar here.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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