YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – A video of the arrest of Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw as he photographed Myanmar security forces against anti-coup protesters shows him being quickly surrounded and kept in a choke while handcuffs are put on him.
Authorities accused Thein Zaw and five other members of the media of violating a public order law that could have them in prison for up to three years.
The video begins with Thein Zaw standing by the side of the road on Saturday, photographing dozens of security forces as they race against a group of protesters in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.
Several policemen rush to him and he tries to escape. At least seven surround him while he is put in a choke. He is pushed and pushed and quickly handcuffed. A policeman with a megaphone uses the handcuffs to pull him away.
Many of the policemen carry truncheons, while some carry what appear to be revolvers and automatic weapons.
“The Associated Press calls for the immediate release of AP journalist Thein Zaw, who was charged with a crime in Myanmar for simply doing his job,” said Ian Phillips, AP vice president for international news, on Wednesday. “Independent journalists must be allowed to report the news freely and safely, without fear of retaliation. The AP condemns the charge against Thein Zaw and his arbitrary detention. “
The military deposed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 1 coup. Protesters demonstrated peacefully against the coup, even as security forces dramatically stepped up their repression. On Wednesday, at least 33 protesters were killed in several cities, according to social media reports and local reports compiled by a data analyst.
The authorities also arrested people en masse.
Lawyer Tin Zar Oo, who represents Thein Zaw, said his client was one of six journalists who were charged under a law that punishes anyone who causes fear among the public, knowingly spreading false news or shaking directly or indirectly for a crime against a government official. The law was amended by the junta last month to broaden its scope and increase the maximum two-year prison sentence.
The group includes journalists working for Myanmar Now, Myanmar Photo Agency, 7Day News, Zee Kwet online news and a freelancer.
Rights and freedom of the press groups demanded the release of journalists, and the Asian chapter of the Association of Asian American Journalists joined these calls on Wednesday.
“AAJA-Asia fully supports Burmese journalists and calls on all authorities in Myanmar to defend freedom of the press and allow the media to spread the news without fear of reprisals,” the group said in a statement. “We call for an immediate end to violence, censorship and persecution.”
Thein Zaw, 32, is being held at Insein prison in northern Yangon, famous for housing political prisoners from previous military regimes.
According to the lawyer, Thein Zaw was detained in custody by a court and could be detained until March 12 without another hearing or further action.
In December 2017, two journalists who worked for the Reuters news agency were arrested while working on a story about Myanmar’s Rohingya minority. They were accused of possessing official documents illegally, although they argued that they were framed for official opposition to their reporting.
Although their case attracted international attention, they were sentenced the following year and sentenced to seven years in prison. They were released in 2019 in a mass presidential pardon.