Myanmar: journalist sentenced under counter terrorism law
NUJ calls for the release of Win Naing Oo charged with incitement by the military junta.
The National Union of Journalists has joined the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in calling for the release of Win Naing Oo, sentenced to five years in prison under Myanmar's counter-terrorism law.
Naing Oo was former chief correspondent at Channel Mandalay and had previously been targeted and charged with incitement. Expecting amnesty by the Obo prison court under junta control, he was instead sentenced to prison on 5 April. According to reports, authorities have not disclosed further detail on the case and whether his sentencing is connected in any way, to three others also charged with terrorism.
The IFJ has urged "Myanmar’s military authorities to immediately drop all charges against the journalist" calling "for a repeal of the draconian counter-terrorism law, which has been used to justify the arbitrary arrests of journalists in Myanmar."
The NUJ has strongly condemned censorship in the country, calling for the protection and safety of those working within media. Journalists working in Myanmar do so with reporting restrictions and in a hostile environment that has led to several being detained for their work.