Thura Aung, a reporter with The People’s Voice local news outlet, was arrested in Taunggyi City in November 2023 and is being detained on terrorism-related charges.
The People’s Voice, established in 2013, is an independent news outlet that covers politics, conflict, and human rights in Myanmar’s Shan State. Thura Aung has worked for the online publication since 2022 and covers politics, war, and human rights.
His arrest came in the wake of the military’s February 1, 2021, democracy-suspending coup and subsequent protests. Since then, the military junta has engaged in an ongoing crackdown on Myanmar’s independent media, detaining and sentencing dozens of journalists.
On November 13, 2023, Thura Aung was arrested during a police check of the dormitory where he resides in Taunggyi City, Shan State, according to an editor at The People’s Voice who communicated with CPJ via messaging app and requested anonymity for security reasons.
The Detained Journalists Information Myanmar private Facebook group confirmed the reporter’s arrest and detention in email correspondence with CPJ in early December.
Thura Aung faces charges under Section 52(a) of the Counter Terrorism Law, according to The People’s Voice editor. The editor told CPJ that he was being held at Taunngyi Police Station No. 1 in early December and said did not suffer from any health issues while in detention.
As of late 2023, the Myanmar Ministry of Information did not reply to CPJ’s emailed request for comment on Thura Aung’s arrest and legal status.