Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Myanmar Military Arrests More Journalists

Reuters

   Myanmar's military government has arrested two more local journalists,
   army-owned television reported on Saturday, the latest among dozens of
   detentions in a sweeping crackdown on the media since a February 1
   coup.

   SithuAung Myint, a columnist for news site Frontier Myanmar and
   commentator with Voice of America radio, and HtetHtetKhine, a freelance
   producer for BBC Media Action, were arrested on August 15, Myawaddy TV
   reported.

   SithuAung Myint was charged with sedition and spreading false
   information that Myawaddy said was critical of the junta and had urged
   people to join strikes and back outlawed opposition groups.

   HtetHtetKhine was accused of harboringSithuAung Myint, a criminal
   suspect, and working for and supporting a shadow National Unity
   Government.

   BBC Media Action said in a statement it was concerned about
   HtetHtetKhine's safety and the charges against her and was closely
   monitoring the situation.

   Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the pair were being held
   incommunicado.

   "We strongly condemn the arbitrary conditions of their detention, which
   reflect the brutality with which the military junta treats
   journalists," said its Asia-Pacific desk head Daniel Bastard.

   Myanmar remains fraught with instability and opposition to army rule,
   under which more than 1,000 people have been killed, according to an
   activist group that has tracked killingsby security forces.

   The military, which has revoked the licenses of many news outlets, says
   it respects the role of media but will not allow news reporting it
   deems false or likely to create public unrest.

   A report by the Committee to Protect
   Journalistshttps://bit.ly/3glb0WNlast month said Myanmar's rulers had
   effectively criminalized independent journalism.

   Human Rights Watch late last month said the army government had
   arrested 98 journalists since the coup and should stop prosecuting
   media staff. Of those arrested, 46 remained in custody as of the end of
   July.

.