Strong Condemnation of the Junta’s Killing of Freelance Journalists and Falsely Portraying Them as Armed Militants

Strong Condemnation of the Junta’s Killing of Freelance Journalists and Falsely Portraying Them as Armed Militants

It has been reported that freelance journalists Ko Win Htut Oo and Ko Htet Myat Thu were shot and killed by junta soldiers at around 9 AM on August 21, 2024, at the home of Ko Htet Myat Thu in Lat Pyar Village, Kyaikhto Township, Mon State.

Additionally, these two journalists have been falsely portrayed as armed militants by junta-controlled media outlets and Telegram channels.

In reality, Ko Win Htut Oo had been charged under Section 505(a) by the junta and was staying in hiding at the home of freelance journalist Ko Htet Myat Thu in Kyaihkto Township, continuing his journalistic work in secret. Ko Htet Myat Thu had previously been shot in the leg and arrested by junta soldiers during the 2021 protests while covering the events as a journalist. After his release from prison, he continued working as a freelance journalist in secret.

During the incident, a local resident and a resistance fighter who were also present in the house were killed.

Regarding this incident, junta-controlled Telegram channels are spreading propaganda that portrays Ko Win Htut Oo and Ko Htet Myat Thu as members of the People’s Defense Force rather than as journalists. Journalists are responsible for providing truthful news and information to the public and regularly meet with various groups as part of their work.

Since the early days of the military coup, even when the armed resistance was weak, the junta repeatedly propagated false claims that journalists were captured along with weapons. Additionally, after arresting journalists, the junta often charged them under various terrorism-related laws and sentenced them to lengthy prison terms, according to findings from the Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) research paper.

Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, until now, the junta has killed 7 journalists and arrested 177.

The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) strongly urges the junta to immediately stop the killing and targeting of journalists and to release all detained journalists unconditionally and without delay.

IMJA strongly condemns this incident as a grave crime against journalists and will record it as such. We also call on the international community, including foreign governments and the United Nations, to apply effective pressure and take decisive actions against the junta for its continued targeting, killing, and imprisoning of journalists.