Myanmar / Asia

  

Myanmar journalist Sut Ring Pan serving 13 years in prison on incitement, terrorism charges

Bangkok, December 16, 2025—Myanmar authorities must immediately and unconditionally release freelance journalist Sut Ring Pan, who is serving a combined 13-year prison sentence on incitement and terrorism charges, and stop using vague and overbroad laws to imprison journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 2, Yangon’s Western District Court convicted and sentenced…

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Insein prison in Yangon, Myanmar

Human Rights Day 2025: CPJ calls on Asian governments to free imprisoned journalists

December 8, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists has written to heads of government across Asia ahead of International Human Rights Day on December 10, urging them to immediately free reporters imprisoned for their work. As of December 1, Asia holds at least 106 journalists behind bars, with China (50), Myanmar (27), and Vietnam (16) the…

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Myanmar releases 6 journalists in pre-election amnesty

Bangkok, December 4, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the recent release of six journalists in Myanmar as part of a pre-election amnesty of more than 3,800 political prisoners, but urges junta authorities to free all remaining jailed members of the press. Those freed are Zaw Linn Htut (Phoe Thar), Htet Htet Khine, Nay Naw, Nyein Chan Wai, Aung San Lin, and Sithu…

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An undated photo of AAMIJ News freelance contributor Myat Thu Kyaw, who was arrested on January 13, 2023, and is serving an 8 1/2-year sentence for criminal incitement and terrorism charges in Myanmar. (Photo: Courtesy of AAMIJ News)

Myanmar junta hits AAMIJ News with election law charges, holds journalist in prison

Bangkok, November 12, 2025—Myanmar authorities must immediately drop charges against AAMIJ News, release its freelance contributor Myat Thu Kyaw, who has been in prison since January 2023, and stop harassing independent media covering election-related news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On November 10, Myanmar’s military government filed charges against exile-run AAMIJ News for…

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An undated photo showing Border News Agency reporter Mu Dra.

Myanmar rebels abduct Border News Agency reporter Mu Dra

Bangkok, September 23, 2025—Myanmar’s Arakan Army must account for and immediately release local Border News Agency reporter Mu Dra, who was abducted by the rebel group’s forces on September 20, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “All combatants in Myanmar’s civil war have a responsibility to protect and not target journalists in retaliation for…

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ASEAN

CPJ, Southeast Asian lawmakers call on ASEAN to protect journalists, media freedom

The Committee to Protect Journalists and a group of Southeast Asian lawmakers have called for the “active engagement” of the regional bloc ASEAN in protecting press freedom and the formation of an inter-parliamentary alliance to safeguard media rights in the region, which includes some of the worst offenders of press freedom. As governments escalate efforts…

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Myanmar journalist Than Htike Myint of Myaelatt Athan news agency

Myanmar journalist Than Htike Myint sentenced to 5 years in prison for terrorism

Bangkok, Thailand, May 2, 2025—Myanmar authorities must immediately release Myaelatt Athan news agency journalist Than Htike Myint, who was sentenced to five years in prison on terrorism charges, which are being misused to harass, threaten, and imprison reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On April 3, a Myanaung Township court in southwest Myanmar…

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Sai Zaw Thaike (Sai Zaw) of Myanmar Now

Myanmar journalist Sai Zaw Thaike repeatedly beaten, abused in prison

Bangkok, February 26, 2025—Myanmar’s military government must immediately end the physical abuse of imprisoned Myanmar Now photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, which appears to be in retaliation for his exposure of the mistreatment of inmates, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Sai Zaw Thaike, who was sentenced to 20 years for sedition in 2023, has…

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VPNs, training, and mental health workshops: How CPJ helped journalist safety in 2024

Haitian journalist Jean Marc Jean was covering an anti-government protest in Port-au-Prince in February 2024 when he was struck in the face by a gas canister fired by police into the crowd. One of at least five journalists injured while covering civil unrest in the country that month, Jean arrived at the hospital with a…

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Myanmar journalists Ta Lin Maung (left) and Naung Yoe

Myanmar rebels hold 2 journalists incommunicado for weeks

Bangkok, October 22, 2024 – Myanmar’s Kachin Independence Army (KIA) must account for and release Red News Agency reporter Ta Lin Maung and freelancer Naung Yoe who were arrested by the rebel group’s forces on September 29 and 30 respectively, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “All combatants in Myanmar’s civil war have a…

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