Statement No. (4/2024)
March 1, 2024
1. The Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) has issued a statement with strong condemnation of the arbitrary arrest and killing of 7 people, including journalist Ko Phoe Thiha, at the Light Infantry Battalion 378 of the Military Council in Rakhine State at around 2:00 p.m. on January 23, 2024.
2. Seven persons, including journalist Ko Phoe Thiha, were illegally arrested and detained at the Mrauk-U township’s police station, and then they were transferred to LIB 378 without legal compliance. It was very terrible to know the confessions of those who were involved in the inhumane killing of the victims near the battalion’s clinic for no reason.
3. From February 1, 2021 to now, a total of 170 journalists have been imprisoned. Out of them, 118 have been released, and the remaining 52 are still serving prison terms in various prisons of the country.
4. The Military Council arrests and kills civilians, including innocent journalists, and imprisonments perpetrated by arbitrary laws are a violation of media freedom and human rights.
Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM)
