About 38 journalists from Mon and Karen states joined the protest organized by the South Myanmar Journalist Network (SMJN) and Myanmar Journalist Association (MJA).
During an hour-long march, beginning at Kan-nar Lan, Bridge No. (4), to Thanlwin Market, participants called on the government to allow journalists the freedom to gather news and for the release of all reporters that have been arrested.
“How can we call it a democratic country when there is no freedom for the media?” U Thein Hlaing, who is a member MJA, told the Independent Mon News Agency.
The government allows for the publications of news journals, but reporters still face harassment and even arrest just for doing their job, said U Thein Hlaing.
Protesters demanded the immediate release of DVB reporter, Zaw Pe, sentenced to one year by Magwe Township on April 7, U Thein Hlaing said.
Zaw Pe and Win Myint Hlaing, a parent of a student, were charged with trespassing and disturbance of a civil servant after the reporter filmed at the Magwe Division Education Department for a story on a Japanese scholarship program in 2012.
Media alliances (The journal council, senior journalist union, senior journalist group and Myanmar Journalist Network and respective media-related organization) said the government must guarantee media freedom at the same time it is promoting for unification with non-state armed groups.
Participants shouted slogans and carried signs demanding for the immediate release of Zaw Pe and all other jailed journalists and media freedom.
U Nyan Soe Win, one of the organizers, said reporters run the daily risk of being sued if their coverage is not favorable. This has created a state of fear among media outlets across the country.
Similar protests for freedom of the press took place on the same day in Magwe and Pegu divisions.
