“The reporters are targeted more than ordinary civilians because they are reporting about unjust cases. In this upcoming general election, there is [the] possibility that we, reporters, will face death-threats when we cover the news,” said U Myint Kyaw.
Leaders from Sunday’s protest utilized media channels to demand justice and urge the government to take action against those who had committed unlawful acts against reporters.
“There are death-threats to reporters, but we have not heard that any action has been taken against those making the threats. [Since] there has been no action, it is possible that [there] will [be] dangers to reporters again,” continued U Myint Kyaw.
About one hundred protesters from MJN and other civil society organizations gathered at 4 pm on November 2nd, and walked from Maha Bandula Park to the Sule Pagoda, in Rangoon. Protesters dressed in t-shirts that read “World Impunity Day”, lit candles at the Sunday corner of the Sule Pagoda, and prayed for the safety of Burma’s journalists and the end of imprisonment, killing, and death-threats against the country’s reporters. The protest lasted one hour, ending around 5 pm.
According to journalist Ma Shwe Hmone, organizer of the prayer-protest, although the protest was organized after receiving permission from appropriate local government offices, the protesters were still harassed by the authorities.
“We submitted for permission to walk from Sule Park to pray at the Sule Pagoda, but we were not allowed to go,” said Ma Shwe Hmone.
World Impunity Day has been recognized as an important day by the United Nations since 2009, in response and acknowledgement of journalists that were killed in the Philippines in 2009.
The security of Burma’s reporters continues to be threatened, as unjust imprisonment, death-threats, and murder continue under Burma’s current government.
