A military court in Myanmar has handed down severe sentences to two journalists from the independent online news service Dawei Watch. Myo Myint Oo received a life prison sentence, while Aung San Oo was sentenced to 20 years, both under a counterterrorism law. These are believed to be the harshest penalties imposed on journalists since the military took control of the country in February 2021, leading to armed resistance and ongoing civil unrest.
Myanmar ranks as one of the world's top jailers of journalists, with a Press Freedom Index ranking of 171 out of 180 countries. The country has seen a crackdown on independent media, with several journalists being arrested, killed, or tortured since the military coup.
The two journalists were arrested separately last December in the town of Myeik and convicted under Myanmar's Counterterrorism Law. The circumstances of their convictions remain unclear, but the law targets acts of violence and involvement in terrorist activities.
According to the chief editor of Dawei Watch, five reporters and a columnist from the news service have been arrested since the military takeover, with three of them subsequently released. Many media outlets now operate clandestinely to avoid arrest, while others work from exile.
The military government has not commented on the cases of the imprisoned journalists. The sentences have been condemned by press freedom organizations, with calls for the immediate release of the journalists and respect for their rights to a fair trial.
Media workers in Myanmar report at least seven deaths and numerous cases of torture among journalists since the coup. Dozens of journalists remain detained, facing charges ranging from incitement to violating counterterrorism laws.
