Myanmar: Cease persecution of journalists

The Myanmar military authorities should immediately drop charges against journalists, said Amnesty International today. This includes those in pre-trial detention, on bail, or those with warrants outstanding on them solely for carrying out their work and the peaceful exercise of their human rights. “Journalists are at the frontline of the struggle to expose the truth on what …

Global: Crackdown on journalists weakens efforts to tackle COVID-19

The backlash against journalists and others who criticize their governments’ handling of COVID-19 is hampering efforts to tackle the virus, Amnesty International said today. The organization warned that censorship of vital information related to the pandemic has become a global phenomenon and urged governments to prioritise public health over their own egos. Ahead of World …

Myanmar: Charging of Reuters journalists a black day for press freedom

Responding to today’s decision by a Yangon court to formally charge Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, with breaching the country’s Official Secrets Act, Tirana Hassan, Amnesty International’s Director of Crisis Response, said: “This is a black day for press freedom in Myanmar. The court’s decision to proceed with this farcical, politically motivated …

Myanmar: Reuters journalists must be released

The Myanmar authorities must immediately release two journalists from the Reuters news agency who have been arbitrarily detained for investigating military abuses in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Amnesty International said. The two journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, are due in court today. They had been investigating the recent military operations in Rakhine State when …