Reporters in jail for chemical weapons exposure

The chief executive officer and three reporters from the Unity Journal were arrested and have been detained for more than three days at Insein Prison, Eleven Media has learned.

Critics say their detention – believed to be related to the journal’s coverage of a secret weapons factory – is similar to the lawless incarcerations of reporters by the former military government.

Thiha Aung, spokesperson for Unity Journal CEO Tin San, said the journal had made no contact with the four detainees and, as of last night, could not confirm their whereabouts.

“It’s been over 52 hours since they were detained. We don’t know where they are. Their families are feeling anxious as they wait for them. They haven’t let us know where they have been detained, and three or four men are keeping watch on us in our street. They should let us know where the detained men are with transparency,” Thiha Aung said yesterday.

Tin San was detained by the authorities at 11.39pm on Saturday and the journal’s reporters Yazar Oo, Paing Thet Kyaw and Si Thu Soe were detained for questioning that afternoon.

“We still don’t have any contact with him. The authorities still won’t let the family know where they have been detained,” said Myo Kyo, cousin of reporter Si Thu Soe.

“It’s been three days since he was detained. I’m worried for him. He’s only 22 years old and not in good health,” said Myo Kyo.

The four media workers were detained by the authorities after the journal published an exposé about a secret weapons factory in Pauk Township, Magway Region on January 23, and a follow-up article in which the factory chief denied that the facility was a chemical weapons factory.

“Such arrests are like those during the rule of the military junta. In the other town’s arrest, they brought no arrest warrant. In the Yangon arrest as well, the authorities did not talk about the matter. 

“What we understand is that they should have made the arrests after informing a journalism organisation like the press council. 

“This is the correct procedure. So their arrests were procedurally wrong. This also amounts to looking down on the media,” said Myit Kyaw, chairperson of the Myanmar Journalists Network.

Section 376 of the Constitution says that no person shall – except for matters related to precautionary measures taken for the security of the Union, or to maintain law and order, peace and tranquillity in accordance with the law in the interests of the public, or matters permitted according to existing law – be held in custody for more than 24 hours without the remand of a competent magistrate.

Speaking on behalf of the media, lawyer Thein Than Oo said that when President Thein Sein took administrative power in 2011 and signalled an era of free press, it marked the first time since 1962 that the media had enjoyed a chance to publish the news without being censored. The president’s stance was praiseworthy. But the socio-political conditions are the same as ever, and these detentions reveal that nothing has changed.

In the meantime, the Eleven Media Group has sent a letter requesting that the interim Myanmar Press Council serve as a liaison between the investigators and the Unity Journal CEO and his three reporters.

“Those covering the story about the factory in Pauk Township were totally removed from the laws concerning the country, particularly its secrecy law. They are not familiar with national security laws, and they have little experience in journalism, so we assume that this is why the incident occurred,” the letter said.

“Their only focus was to report on the land grabbing issues, and the losses faced by farmers – not issues connected to national security or confidentiality. Therefore, in response to their detention, we are asking the interim press council to conduct the necessary negotiations and mediation.” 

The interim press council is meeting today to discuss the issue. Press council secretary Kyaw Min Swe said the council expects to release a statement at the very least.