Myanmar Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Police stand guard outside a court in Yangon, Myanmar, on August 9, 2019. The Mandalay District Court recently agreed to hear an appeal that could reopen a criminal defamation lawsuit against editor Swe Win. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

Myanmar court to hear appeal in defamation case against journalist Swe Win

August 29, 2019 10:08 AM EDT

Bangkok, August 29, 2019 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a decision by Myanmar’s Mandalay District Court to hear an appeal that could reopen a criminal defamation lawsuit against editor Swe Win.

A market stall sells newspapers in Yangon, in June 2019. Journalists in Myanmar say their reporting is still met with legal action and censorship. (CPJ/Shawn Crispin)

From conflict zones to courtrooms, Myanmar’s journalists are under fire

July 31, 2019 12:42 PM EDT

Hopes for greater press freedom when Myanmar moved to quasi-democratic rule were quickly quashed with the jailing in 2017 of two Reuters reporters. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have their freedom again, but journalists and press freedom activists who met with CPJ’s Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin in Yangon in June said that…

A man uses a cellphone in Yangon, Myanmar, on September 26, 2014. The government recently cut mobile internet access to Rakhine and Chin states. (AFP/Ye Aung Thu)

Myanmar authorities shut down internet access in Rakhine and Chin states

June 24, 2019 10:50 AM EDT

Bangkok, June 24, 2019 — Myanmar authorities should immediately restore internet access to Rakhine and Chin states and ensure that connectivity is not interrupted in the future, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Nanda, a broadcast reporter with the local privately owned Channel Mandalay, has been detained since May 15. (CPJ via Channel Mandalay's Facebook page, used with permission)

Myanmar reporter detained without charge since May 15

May 22, 2019 11:54 AM EDT

Bangkok, May 22, 2019 — Myanmar authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Nanda, a broadcast reporter with the local privately owned Channel Mandalay TV news station, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Polices are seen in Yangon, Myanmar, on February 24, 2017. Journalist Aung Marm Oo went into hiding earlier this month as police seek his arrest. (Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun)

Myanmar journalist Aung Marm Oo in hiding as police seek his arrest

May 13, 2019 12:02 PM EDT

Bangkok, May 13, 2019 — Myanmar authorities should immediately cease harassing and threatening to arrest Aung Marm Oo, editor-in-chief of the privately owned Rakhine state-based news agency Development Media Group, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, pictured as they are freed from prison in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 7 after receiving a presidential pardon. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo freed by pardon in Myanmar

May 7, 2019 12:24 AM EDT

Bangkok, May 7, 2019– Reuters’ journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were released today from a Yangon prison in Myanmar as part of a presidential pardon, after spending more than 500 days behind bars, Reuters reported. The journalists were released in a mass amnesty of prisoners granted today by President Win Myint, according to…

Soldiers are seen in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta region in Myanmar on February 2, 2018. The Myanmar military recently sued independent news outlet The Irrawaddy for defamation over its coverage. (Reuters/Lynn Bo Bo/Pool)

Myanmar military sues The Irrawaddy for criminal defamation over conflict coverage

April 25, 2019 11:32 AM EDT

Bangkok, April 25, 2019 — Myanmar’s military should drop its criminal defamation case against independent news outlet The Irrawaddy over its coverage of the conflict in the country’s Rakhine state, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police escort Reuters journalist Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone from a court hearing in Yangon in August 2018. The Myanmar Supreme Court has upheld their seven-year conviction. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

Myanmar court rejects appeal by Reuters’ Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo

April 22, 2019 11:31 PM EDT

New York, April 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep disappointment today after the Myanmar Supreme Court upheld Reuters’ journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo’s convictions. Reuters reported that the Supreme Court justice said the appeal was rejected and did not elaborate further.

Detained Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone are escorted by police as they leave after a court hearing in Yangon, Myanmar, on August 20, 2018. The journalists will have their appeal heard at the Myanmar Supreme Court on March 26. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

Myanmar Supreme Court to hear appeal of jailed Reuters reporters

March 24, 2019 5:27 PM EDT

Bangkok, March 25, 2019 — The Supreme Court of Myanmar will hear an appeal by the lawyers of jailed Reuters news agency reporters Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone on March 26, according to a statement from Reuters seen by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

People read local newspapers in Yangon, Myanmar, on January 30, 2017. Two journalists working in Kachin stat were recently detained and assaulted by a local mining company there. (Thein Zaw/AP)

Myanmar journalists held, assaulted by mining company over news coverage

February 28, 2019 10:31 AM EST

Bangkok, February 28, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the harassment, detention, and assault of two journalists in Myanmar on February 26 and called on the country’s authorities to thoroughly investigate the case and hold those responsible to account.