Myanmar: CFWIJ Welcomes The Release Of Ma Moe Myint And Her Dawei Watch Colleagues

Location: Myanmar, Dawei
Date: January 27, 2022

Photo Credit: AP Photo

Myanmar junta authorities reportedly released Dawei Watch reporter, Ma Moe Myint and her colleagues who were arrested on January 18, 2022. They were arrested in their respective homes while the media outlet’s office in the southern Burma region of Tanintharyi was raided after and documents were seized. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the release and calls on the military authorities to cease their crackdown on independent media.

After a week being detained Dewai Watch reporters Ma Moe Myint and Ko Zaw and a graphic designer employed by the news outlet, Ko Thar Gyi were released on January 25, the news outlet announced. 

“All three of us were released safely. We were not brought to the interrogation center. We were released from the police station after being asked what they wanted to know,” reporter Ko Zaw quoted by a Myanmar news outlet Mizzima.

The three of them were arrested in Dawei city on the night between January 18 and 19. Their houses were raided, while according to Irrawaddy, the news outlet has not been informed of the reason behind the raids and arrest.  

The Coalition For Women In Journalism reported on reporters’ arrest with a deep concern on their unexplained week-long detention. We welcome the news on their release and call on Myanmar authorities to end the violence and impunity against independent media workers.

Dawei Watch has been operational since 2012 and has reported extensively on news from South Myanmar. Local news reports stated that the junta officials also carried out a subsequent raid at the offices of the digital news media outlet and seized documents and other materials from the premises. 

Since the military coup in Myanmar in February 2021, journalists have been targeted with mass arrests as well as physical violence and abuse. Those reporting on protests against the military junta or critiquing the current regime have been met with brutal force and violence. In the previous year, the CFWIJ documented at least eight cases of women journalists who ran foul with the military junta and were put behind bars. 

The CFWIJ has reported extensively on violations in Myanmar following the coup, which include abductions, arbitrary detentions and forced Internet blackouts. The actions of the military junta in Myanmar are deeply reprehensible and in complete violation of basic human rights. We call on the international community to respond to the plight of journalists in Myanmar and protect women journalists, who have fearlessly continued to hold power to account in the country. Read more of our reports on Myanmar here.

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 female 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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