A military court in Myanmar has sentenced a photojournalist to 20 years in prison. The sentence is the longest against a journalist since the coup back in 2021. It is the photographer’s employer, Myanmar Now, that reports on the sentence.
40-year-old Sai Zaw Thaike was arrested at the end of May in the state of Rakhine while covering the cyclone, Mocha.
Since the coup, more than 24,000 people have been arrested. Among them are over 150 journalists, and at least four journalists have been killed.
Myanmar is the country in the world that imprisons the second most journalists after China. These numbers were stated by Reporters Without Borders back in April.
Source: nrk.no
The sentencing of Sai Zaw Thaike is a grim reflection of the state of press freedom in Myanmar. Journalists play a crucial role in informing the public and holding powers accountable, and such severe punishments only hinder the free flow of information. The statistics on the arrest of journalists since the 2021 coup are alarming. It’s essential for the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists and advocate for their rights and safety.