JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 14, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK - The arrest of two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Moe Aung in Myanmar under the 1923 Official Secrets Act is another example of the misuse of archaic colonial-era laws, as well as evidence of authorities’ desire to prevent journalists from conducting investigative reporting on sensitive topics, PEN America said in a statement Wednesday.
Wa Lone and Moe Aung (also known as U Thet Oo Maung and Kyaw Soe Oo respectively) were arrested in northern Yangon Tuesday night, after meeting with two policemen who had recently served in Rakhine State.
News reports indicate that they will be charged with allegedly possessing internal security reports related to the ongoing fighting in Rakhine State between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army.
The Official Secrets Act carries a maximum punishment of 14 years in prison for the unlawful possession of military documents. Besides a single photo distributed by the Ministry of Information of the two journalists in handcuffs, standing next to a table full of documents, little has been made known about their location or the nature of their arrest.
“The arrest and incommunicado detention of Wa Lone and Moe Aung is a disturbing example of authorities’ clear desire to clamp down on news coverage of the crisis in Rakhine State, and their willingness to use restrictive colonial-era laws to do so,” said Karin Karlekar, Director of Free Expression at Risk programs at PEN America.
“This incident is one in a pattern of arrests intended to prevent journalists from reporting the truth on the ground. We call on the government of Myanmar to clarify the circumstances of their arrest, allow them access to legal representation immediately, and cease using restrictive laws to punish journalists for doing their job.”
PEN America remains concerned about the larger pattern of expanding free expression violations and the prosecution of journalists in Myanmar.
In November, two foreign reporters were sentenced to two months in prison on charges of filming with a drone without permission outside the parliament building, while in June, three reporters were arrested and detained for several months under the Unlawful Associations Act.
PEN America has also condemned the alarming rise in attempted prosecutions of online speech under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act. - A PEN media release
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.