Rakhine State Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

A man in military fatigues and a face mask holding a cell phone in his hand looks at the camera.

Journalists struggle to work amid extended internet shutdowns in Myanmar, Ethiopia, Kashmir

May 3, 2021 7:09 AM EDT

By CPJ Africa and Asia Program Staff Even a brief shutdown of the internet impedes the press from doing its job. But some disruptions last for months, severely undermining safety and access to information, CPJ has found. Recently, authorities have imposed such measures in Myanmar and Ethiopia amid serious crises. India leads the world in internet…

Police officers are seen in Sittwe, Myanmar, on March 3, 2017. Journalist Kyaw Linn was recently attacked and threatened in Sittwe. (Reuters/Soe Zeya Tun)

Myanmar journalist Kyaw Linn attacked, threatened in Rakhine state

May 15, 2020 10:50 AM EDT

Bangkok, May 15, 2020 — Myanmar authorities must conduct a swift, thorough, and impartial investigation into the assault of journalist Kyaw Linn and ensure that reporters can work in Rakhine state without fearing for their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police officers are seen in Yangon, Myanmar, on April 17, 2020. Editor Khaing Mrat Kyaw is facing terrorism charges and is in hiding. (AP/Thein Zaw)

Myanmar editor in hiding, facing terrorism charges over interview

May 13, 2020 11:35 AM EDT

Bangkok, May 13, 2020 – Myanmar authorities should drop the terrorism charges against editor Khaing Mrat Kyaw and stop threatening journalists covering the Arakan Army insurgent group, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Voice of Myanmar editor-in-chief Ko Nay Lin is escorted by police to court in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 31, 2020. He is facing life in prison on terrorism charges for his reporting. (AFP/Zaw Zaw)

Myanmar editor faces life in prison for publishing interview with insurgent group

March 31, 2020 12:15 PM EDT

Bangkok, March 31, 2020 — Myanmar authorities should immediately release journalist Ko Nay Lin and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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.

Pan Ei Mon, left, and Chit Su Win, wives of jailed Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, talk to media after their appeal was rejected by a court in Yangon, Myanmar, on January 11, 2019. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

Myanmar court rejects appeal of jailed Reuters’ reporters

January 11, 2019 7:39 AM EST

Bangkok, January 11, 2019–A Myanmar court upheld today the conviction of Reuters news agency reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, both of whom are serving seven year sentences for violating the Official Secrets Act, Reuters reported.

Messages of support are left on a poster depicting detained Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, at a press freedom event in Yangon, Myanmar, on May 1. (Reuters/Ann Wang)

People need to know why our journalists were arrested in Myanmar, Reuters tells CPJ

May 10, 2018 12:14 PM EDT

Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have spent nearly five months in detention in Myanmar, on charges of violating a colonial-era Official Secrets Act. At the time of their arrest in Yangon on December 12, the reporters were investigating a mass killing of Rohingya men by Buddhist villagers and Myanmar troops that took…

Reuters journalists Wa Lone, left, and Kyaw Soe Oo, face up to 14 years in prison for their reporting in Myanmar. (Reuters/Antoni Slodkowski)

Myanmar charges two Reuters reporters under Official Secrets Act

January 10, 2018 7:23 AM EST

Bangkok, January 10, 2018–Prosecutors in Myanmar today charged two Reuters reporters with violating the Official Secrets Act, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the criminal indictment and called on the authorities to drop the charges and release the reporters.

Myanmar must free Reuters journalists, drop investigation

January 8, 2018 10:45 AM EST

Washington, D.C., January 8, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Myanmar authorities to cease all legal proceedings and release from jail two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, whose work involved reporting on conflict-ridden Rakhine state. The two were arrested December 12 on suspicions of violating Myanmar’s colonial-era Official Secrets Act,…

Two Reuters reporters arrested in Myanmar

December 13, 2017 10:32 AM EST

Bangkok, December 13, 2017–Two Reuters reporters were arrested on Tuesday evening by police in Myanmar’s former capital of Yangon, Reuters and other news outlets reported. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for the reporters’ immediate and unconditional release.