Myanmar journalist Than Lwin Thu, also known as Ma New, is being held in detention under undisclosed charges. She is one of several journalists in detention in Shan State, one of several ethnic regions where the military junta has moved to suppress independent news coverage.
She was arrested by police and military security forces on the evening of December 21, 2021, at her home in Thit Taw Quarter, Taunggyi, Shan State, according to news reports. Colleagues quoted in the reports said her whereabouts were unknown immediately after her arrest.
Than Lwin Thu’s detention without charge was confirmed by a database compiled by the Detained Journalists Information Myanmar private Facebook group, which CPJ reviewed. She reports for both the local The First News and First Weekly News Journal, according to the news reports.
Neither publication responded to CPJ’s request for comment sent via Facebook. CPJ could not determine where Than Lwin Thu was being detained in late 2022.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Information did not reply to CPJ’s emailed request for comment on Than Lwin Thu’s legal status and situation in detention in late 2022.