How Myanmar journalists report under military rule
Journalists in Myanmar have resorted to unconventional methods to report on life under military rule including using cover stories and burner phones.
The media landscape in Myanmar has drastically changed since the military seized power in 2021. More than 120 journalists have been detained, licenses have been revoked at about a dozen outlets, and other media organizations and reporters now live in exile. In order to stay safe under military rule, those who remain say they are taking a range of precautions.
The junta claims media and activists are spreading "fake news." Its spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told VOA in June that the government never arrests journalists for doing their jobs. However, journalists who spoke to VOA described how they or their colleagues have been targeted for arrest.
Win Zaw Naing is a journalist for the independent news website Red News Agency. He was briefly detained by the military last year for his coverage of the coup. He later learned that the township police had a list of arrestees. He has developed a set of safety measures, such as moving regularly. He has moved at least five times in Yangon so far. When conducting telephone interviews, he uses secure methods.
As a result of the threats to journalist safety, many journalists have chosen to go undercover in order to continue reporting on the conflict. Nevertheless, even with a cover story and safety precautions, gaining access to sources is challenging.
Given that Myanmar's military is accused of atrocities, getting access to witnesses and video footage is crucial to documenting the events. More than 2200 people have been killed by the military and more than 14,000 have been detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based in Thailand.
Aung Thu Nyein, a political analyst, stated that the junta has no tolerance for "free media" in Myanmar. Myanmar has fallen to nearly the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index as a result of a sharp decline in freedom of the press.
Reporters Without Borders has ranked the country 176 out of 180 countries, with one being the most free.