Myanmar: CFWIJ and WPF Decries Shin Daewe's Life Sentence Amidst Rising Journalist Detentions in Myanmar
Harshest term ever imposed on a journalist since the military junta seized power three years ago
Location: Myanmar, Yangon
Date: January 10, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses our profound dismay and outrage over the life imprisonment sentence imposed on the former journalist and award-winning documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe in Myanmar. This draconian punishment, handed down inside the notorious Insein prison near Yangon, marks the harshest term ever imposed on a journalist since the military junta's seizure of power in 2021. Reports of physical abuse suffered by Daewe during her initial detention period are deeply troubling. We urge the international community to use all means to pressure the military junta to release all unjustly imprisoned journalists and to cease its crackdown on the press. Daewae’s sentence must be revoked, and the journalist released.
On January 10, 2024, inside the notorious Insein prison near Yangon, Shin Daewe, a 50-year-old journalist and documentary filmmaker, received a life sentence from a military court.
Daewe was arrested by the police on October 15, 2023, for being in possession of an aerial drone. Despite the common use of drones by journalists, their ownership is prohibited in Myanmar. She was charged under Myanmar's stringent Counterterrorism Law of 2014, which the junta has transformed into a tool of oppression. Daewe has been convicted of "financing and abetting terrorism" and given the harshest penalty, in line with the practices of the courts under junta control.
During the initial two weeks of her arrest, Daewe was held at an undisclosed location before being transferred to Yangon's Insein prison. Disturbing reports from prison sources, as conveyed by her husband, raise concerns about her well-being. Marks and bruises on her arms, coupled with stitches on her head, strongly suggest she may have been subjected to severe physical abuse while in custody.
Daewe, a renowned media professional, has an award-winning career in journalism and documentary filmmaking. Formerly a video journalist for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), she transitioned to a career as a documentary filmmaker, earning international acclaim for her work. One of her notable projects includes the award-winning 2013 short film "Now I Am 13," portraying the story of an uneducated teenage girl in central Myanmar.
The military coup on February 1, 2021, triggered a wave of terror against journalism in Myanmar. CFWIJ has documented numerous arrests and detentions. The junta imposed a blacklist of banned media outlets, leading to a grim environment for press freedom. Since the coup, four journalists have lost their lives at the hands of the military, and the country now holds the unfortunate distinction of being one of the world's largest jailers of journalists, with 64 currently detained. Myanmar ranked 173rd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2023 World Press Freedom Index.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom strongly denounces the sentencing of Shin Daewe and the broader assault on press freedom in Myanmar. We call upon the international community to unite in demanding the immediate release of Shin Daewe and all other journalists unjustly detained in Myanmar. It is imperative for the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts and apply collective pressure on the military junta to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of information in Myanmar.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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