Myanmar: Journalist arrested covering protest, still detained

A journalist with local television station Channel Mandalay was arrested covering a protest at a cement factory on May 15. He remains in police custody. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly criticised the arrest and ongoing detention of the journalist, demanding his immediate release.

According to the Myanmar Times, Nanda, a report with Channel Mandalay, was one of the four people who were detained by police after as they covered the protest at a cement factory in Aung Tha Pyay village in Patheingyi in central Myanmar.

The editor-in-chief of Channel Mandalay, U Min Din, has made a statement following the arrest. In the statement, he said that the company will file charges under the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens if the authorities do not release Nanda and charge him in court.

U Min Din added Nanda was not among the protesters nor was he involved in any violence during the protest. The complaint over the arrest has been sent to Mandalay’s chief minister.

The IFJ said: “We call for the immediate release of Nanda and for any charges to be dropped. The fact that Nanda has been detained for over two weeks without charge raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to press freedom. We demand the Myanmar authorities stop using detention to intimidate journalists.

For further information contact IFJ Asia - Pacific on [email protected]

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries

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