World Press Freedom Day and Myanmar News

May 3 is designated as World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This year, we are preparing to hold a conference of journalists from around the world from May 2 to 5. Freedom of expression; Security of journalists; People's right to information will be discussed at this conference.

In Myanmar, 2021 When the military took power on February 1, the media, Journalists arrested, killed and imprisoned Property is being confiscated. Swe Win, editor-in-chief of the Myanmar Naung News Agency, said:

"Before the coup, we were affected by the political changes that took place in 2010," he said. To some extent, we have the authority to do so. For example, we were able to write to some extent the business of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. For example, going to a holding company and doing an interview. We will investigate the next case of U Koni assassination. The police are not happy about this in Burma. Whether they are satisfied or not. To some extent, whether we were satisfied or not, we were allowed to do so. It is true that it is relaxed to some extent. However, I feel that the situation has become more difficult since the NLD came to power. Because In the wake of the coup d'etat, we have always felt that the situation in the country has not been good since the assassination of U Kony in 2017. There was a lot of mother-in-law movement, especially. Now the answer lies in what motherhood is. According to a senior police chief who recently launched the CDM, the military is largely in control of the entire Mabatha movement. "All of this is a danger to all of us journalists."

Soe Ya, who started the Delta News Agency in Irrawaddy Division in 2018, said:

“Between 2010 and 2015, the media came back from abroad. The big media. There are more job opportunities. "But the development of local media has been weak in the first five years."

Ko Ye Naung, who has been working as a photojournalist since 2011, photographed the protests. Here is how he escaped from the army while covering the news.

"On February 25, pro-military people clashed with pro-democracy activists," he said. The diameter is a stab wound. I videotaped it. Posted online in the evening. I posted a lot of threats when I posted it. I got this file. I was threatened. I mean, I'm going to kill you. From then on, I had to move. ”

Swe Win said he was prepared because the military was anticipating a coup.

“Three or four days before the coup, we wrote a news article from Burma Naung. On the day of the coup, we confiscated all our important belongings in our office. We also ordered all our people to flee the countryside for a while. And last but not least, the headline made you think, 'They're going to have no roots.' I sent some people to the areas of the ethnic armed groups so that we could continue to operate. There was no fire in that forest. In the absence of water, we had to continue to broadcast news with generators. ”

Soe Ya said the Delta News Agency had closed its office and moved to ethnic areas.

“Within days of the coup, we closed our Pathein office and moved to Rangoon. But it was not because of the arrest at that time. It is a preparation. It continues to operate in Rangoon. However, internet cuts, It's getting tighter. Homes were searched; When the arrests happened, we were not safe. And rather than being trapped in a worse situation. I thought I would have to leave Rangoon in order to continue working. So we moved to Lay Kay Kaw, Karen State. Lay Kay Kaw is also closest to the border. Electricity is available 24 hours a day from Thailand. "Because of the internet, we have moved the cable to be the most convenient for us."

Then, in December 2021, Delta News Agency members were evacuated to an area where the military council had invaded Lay Kay Kaw.

Here is what Ye Naung said: It's more dangerous to report in March and April.

"On April 3, young people protested in front of the cabinet office. Hanging on vinyl… That's what we got the news. There are other news outlets as well. The military council rushed at our car. We also drove. Another protest car was parked nearby. Our car went straight ahead. When the protest car turned, they did not follow our car and followed the protest car. "We missed it."

After that, Ye Naung said, he had to go out and cover the news in various ways so that he would not be perceived as a journalist.

“During the Thingyan month, there are Thingyan protests, so we have to go out in different ways. It looks like a sack that encloses with a drawstring. Cameras are not easy to carry in a backpack and can be carried in a shopping bag. ”

Despite the preparations, Ma Kay Zun Nwe, a Burmese journalist, was arrested while covering the news. Homes were confiscated; Swe Win said there were arrests.

“We have a female journalist, Ma Kay Zun Nwe, who was arrested during the first strike in Sanchaung. He was arrested for four months. And after our license was revoked, I Editor Aung Shin and another editor; Danny Fanstar, a former US editor; The Pabedan Township Police Station charged all four under various sections. There are articles on terrorism. Contains illegal association articles. But all of us Burmese were able to escape. I was not affected because I was out of the country before the coup. My house was confiscated. The houses of other Burmese editors were also confiscated. However, Danny Fanstar was arrested at Rangoon airport. "Now he is back in the United States."

Such news outlets Journalists are dangerous, but some military councilors say they are safe and secure in the media. These military leaders are trying to control the media. Their influential media outlets; Soe Ya said the birth of journalists covering their favorite news dates back to before the coup.

“Since I was in Naypyidaw, they have been buying journalists. They use money to organize. And then create new news outlets. This has been happening in Naypyidaw for about two years before the coup. Everyone knows that. Another thing is that in the last five years, the development of our local media in rural areas has lagged behind. What they do first is… crime scene aspects. Police officers, Former police officers Expatriates are called "reporters" and demanded a line fee in rural areas. They extort money. KTVs were threatened with money, 'Should I write news?' In other words, he is working as a broker with the police. "They were deliberately destroyed."

Swe Win said the lack of freedom for journalists to take risks is detrimental to the quality of the news. Therefore, the Burmese press and the media are divided between China and India. North Korea, Swe Win thinks that the situation is under a dictatorship like that of Iran.

"The situation is a coup that we have never seen before," he said. Not just on the media. We have heard of other atrocities. As for the media, some of them are arrested when they do the same thing to the media. Next time, when it comes to news, all repression is completely impossible. A journalist will catch everything. Most current licensors also allow some control over the media they could control before the transition in 2010. That's because they want to use it. Now, surprisingly, before 2020, technology was very weak. Both the Internet and In addition, the availability of cameras; Mobile phone access in the world of journalism Very weak. Now you can use a lot. But even so, local journalists are not immune. Because I check my phone unexpectedly. It is not easy for reporters to take photos. And even if a reporter is caught, he or she will be subjected to various sections besides the reporter section. It also harms families. What we are seeing now is China in Burma. North Korea "Like Iran." In other words, China in Burma. North Korea "Like Iran." In other words, China in Burma. North Korea "Like Iran."

Soe Ya also said that Burma's freedom of the press was negative.

"It simply came to our notice then. Minnes has arrived. Even after being arrested, reporters did not dare to call themselves reporters. Because journalists do more because they are reporters. I caught more. I beat more. I was imprisoned more. So not to mention the freedom of the press, not even the security of journalists. This is the zero field (zero state). What's more, Minnes (negative) is creating fake reporters and holding press conferences in Naypyidaw. If you look at the people who asked Zaw Min Tun at the press conference in Naypyidaw, it is clear that these people are not real reporters. We have never seen it. It is obvious that they are not reporters. So Zero Level is creating fake reporters for non-journalists Not anymore. Minus Level This is embarrassing. It destroyed the media. "

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) , 2021 was the worst year for journalists and the most dangerous of journalists in the thirty years from 1992 to 2022.

Three journalists were killed across the country after the coup. 115 journalists arrested; Some of them were released, but 14 were jailed and 57 were detained, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

DBV, including Myanmar Naung; Mizzima Five news outlets, including 7 Day and Modern, have had their licenses revoked and raided news outlets. RSF points out that a total of 12 news outlets have been shut down, with internet connections cut off in two areas, and Burma's press freedom ranks 140th in the world.

Malaysia calls for ASEAN-NUG talks

Burma's coup junta opposes Malaysia's call for talks between NUG and Asean

A statement from the Foreign Ministry said:

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah met with NUG Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last week. He also met with the chairman of the National Unity Advisory Council (NUCC).

Malaysia then proposed that ASEAN hold an informal meeting with the NUG.

Malaysia says the Burmese military council has failed to do anything about the five-point peace process set by Asean within a year.

On the Burmese military council, Malaysia's actions have encouraged violence. They say it hinders their efforts.

A statement from the Burmese military council said today that Malaysia would not meet with the NUG again.

Malaysia is the first Asean member to meet informally with the NUG government.

The ASEAN Parliamentary Group on Human Rights (APHR) has called on ASEAN to hold formal talks with the NUG government elected by the people of Burma as soon as possible.

BMKG: Heavy rains have the potential to hit a number of provinces in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicts heavy rain that can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds has the potential to hit a number of provinces in Indonesia on Tuesday .

Based on information compiled by ANTARA from the BMKG's official website in Jakarta, Tuesday, a number of provinces experiencing the weather forecast are Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung Islands, Lampung, Banten and West Java. .

Other provinces that have the potential to be hit by similar weather are Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.

Areas that have the potential for rain that can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds are the Riau Islands, DKI Jakarta, East Nusa Tenggara, and North Maluku.

Previously, the BMKG appealed to travelers using land routes to pay attention to weather information, especially this year's Lebaran homecoming period coincides with the transition.

Travelers need to be vigilant, because the weather changes during transitions that are dynamic and erratic. Homecomers are also advised to always update weather information so that they remain careful when carrying vehicles so that homecoming trips are safe and comfortable.