Thai journalists association concerned over declining state of media freedom in Myanmar
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Thai Thai Journalists Association Wednesday issued a statement to oppose the imprisonment of four journalists and a media CEO.
The statement says:
Statement of Thai Journalists Association on the Declining State of Media Freedom in
Myanmar
July 23, 2014
The Thai Journalists Association is alarmed and deeply concerned with the court decision in Magwe Division, Myanmar on 10 July to sentence four journalists and the chief executive officer of Unity Journal to 10 years of hard labor for violating Section 3 of the 1923 State Secrets Act.
It was even more disheartening to hear that other fellow journalists who were trying to express concern about this unjust imprisonment are to be charged under Section 18 of the Assembly Act.
This signals a significant reversal of the progress of Myanmar’s fragile media freedom from previous advances in the past two years.
We share our sympathy with victims of this unwelcome situation and express solidarity with the rest of the media community in protecting media freedom in Myanmar.
We reiterate our firm belief that journalism is not a crime. And any lapse in professional code of conduct and ethics should be dealt within the framework of the new Press Law and with due respect of the Myanmar Constitution which guarantees freedom of express and freedom of the media and especially now that Myanmar has the Media Law that clearly spells out the media rights and responsibility.
We are ready to work with colleagues for promoting a free press environment in Myanmar and the rest of the region.
Pradit Ruangdit
President, Thai Journalists Association
