Myanmar journalist Nay Naw, a senior field reporter with the independent Karen Information Center (KIC) news service, is being held in pretrial detention for criminal incitement and terrorism, charges Myanmar’s military regime has used broadly to stifle independent news reporting since staging a democracy-suspending coup in 2021.
On March 28, 2022, Nay Naw was arrested by police in Myawaddy town, Kayin State, according to KIC editor-in-chief Nan Paw Gay, who communicated with CPJ via email.
He was later charged by Myawaddy police under Article 505(a) of the penal code, a broad provision that criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news, and undisclosed accusations under the Counter Terrorism Law, Nan Paw Gay said.
The charges were based on information and contacts police authorities found on his confiscated mobile telephone, Nan Paw Gay said, without elaborating.
On June 30, 2022, police and military officials locked up his house, forcing his wife and daughter to find a new residence, according to Nan Paw Gay. Nay Naw was being held at Myawaddy Police Station awaiting trial in late 2022, Nan Paw Gay told CPJ.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Information did not reply to CPJ’s emailed request for comment on Nay Naw’s legal status and situation in detention in late 2022.