VOA Contributor Indicted in Myanmar for Reporting

In Myanmar, a journalist who regularly contributes to news outlets such as Voice of America and Frontier Myanmar was formally indicted on Thursday by a Yangon court. According to the authorities, Sithu Aung Myint, who was arrested in August 2021 along with freelance journalist Htet Htet Khine, is facing two charges relating to content which authorities claim was critical of the military.

A lawyer, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the court indicted Sithu Aung Myint on charges of incitement and spreading false news under Section 505a of Myanmar's penal code, as well as sedition under Section 124a, which punishes anything that is considered to generate hostility toward the military. Upon conviction, he may face up to three years in prison for the first charge, and up to 20 years for the second.

A lawyer for Sithu Aung Myint said Thursday that the detainee has been denied access to adequate medical care while in custody.

"The weather was hot, and the mosquito bites made it difficult for him to sleep. (He) took medication at the doctor's office because of diarrhea. However, most medicines provided are expired," the lawyer told VOA. The lawyer added that others in custody lack proper medical care.

On Wednesday, the journalist is scheduled to return to court. A text message sent by VOA requesting comment was not responded to by Myanmar's military press team. The military has previously denied targeting journalists for their reporting.

At the time of his arrest in Bahan Township, Yangon, Sithu Aung Myint was hiding with Htet Htet Khine, a freelance journalist working for BBC Media Action. On August 15, 2021, they were taken into custody.

Than Lwin Htun, the head of VOA's Burmese service, is of the opinion that Sithu Aung Myint's reports for VOA are factual and should be released.

"It is the responsibility of journalists to report on what is happening, so it is necessary to listen to the people through the media who are reporting correctly," Than Lwin Htun said.

Myanmar's Illegal Association Act charges Htet Htet Khine, a journalist arrested along with Sithu Aung Myint. The defendant is incarcerated in Insein prison awaiting trial, and the lawyer who represents her fled after being harassed by the military.

Separately, Soe Yarzar Tun, a freelance journalist released during an amnesty in June 2021, has been re-arrested after being charged with violating Myanmar's anti-terrorism laws. In a statement, a person familiar with the case, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said that the journalist's attorneys have not yet been able to obtain documents related to his case.

As a freelancer, he wrote for Myanmar outlets Mizzima and Myanmar Now. The first time he was arrested was in March 2021 while covering anti-coup protests. He was detained for 122 days.

122 journalists and media workers have been arrested since the coup on February 1, and 48 are still in detention, according to Reporting Asean, which keeps track of arrests. 22 of those have been found guilty. Those who accuse the media of incitement or denigration of the military are the most frequent accusers.