A network of press freedom organizations in the Philippines has called on Myanmar’s state forces to respect the freedom of the press and freedom of expression after the latter’s military has taken over its government and declared a year-long state of emergency.
In a statement, Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network viewed the actions of Myanmar’s military to reverse the country’s electoral result following a general election as “a blatant attack on democratic rights and freedoms.”
The press freedom organizations—whose members composed of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), MindaNews, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Philippine Press Institute (PPI)—raised concerns following reports of journalists being assaulted and placed under surveillance by state forces in the days leading to the coup.
“We call on the military of Myanmar to respect freedom of the press and freedom of expression, and people's basic civil rights,” the group said Thursday, Feb. 3.
“We demand that the rights and safety of journalists and media houses be upheld and protected at all times, and that nothing be done to hamper or prevent them from doing their work,” it added.
Myanmar’s military has staged a coup on Feb. 1 following a general election which hailed the political party of the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, as winners.
But the state’s armed forces have contested the result of the election, claiming widespread fraud.
The country’s power has been handed over to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, while Suu Kyi and members of her party were detained.
“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in the Myanmar Journalists Network and Myanmar Journalists Association and extend our full support to them. Know that you are not alone,” the media group said.