Myanmar
Before falling down to the 139th spot out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), Myanmar had a five-year growth period. So, what went wrong? Constant political turmoil may have something to do with this sudden decline and may spell out trouble for years to come.
In 2011 Myanmar went through a government change, switching from a one-party system to a democracy. This development gave hope to journalists of a new age of a freer press in the country. However, since 2017 the country has gone down on the WPFI, issued each year by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international NGO tasked with the promotion of press freedom all around the world.
Although not even a month ago the country experienced a military coup, having their democratically elected government overthrown. This is one of the main reason Myanmar scores a 30 out of 100 on the Freedom in the World index, composed by Freedom House, an NGO fighting for basic human rights around the world.
At the end of last year, Nov. 29, 2020, Myanmar Now, one of Myanmar’s top news sites, reported on the shooting of Swe Win, one of their own editors, an entire year after the attack took place. According RSF during Win’s vacation officers of the law were questioning about his whereabouts. That is what the owner of the guesthouse where Win was staying at told investigators. Local authorities denied these allegations.
One might think that this was an isolated incident. But this was not the first time Win has been targeted by the government. In 2017 win was arrested for “defamation” of an Islamophobic Buddhist monk.
Win went on record and had this to say to RSF: “Our stories have angered and shamed many individuals in power, which is the only reason why I believe I was shot. This incident was a serious targeted threat with the aim of silencing me and stopping my work. However, as long as I remain alive, I will continue to speak out and to do very professional journalism in a powerful way.”
Matter of fact, since 2014 three reporters have been killed in the country, according to a report released by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
As part of their media crackdown the Myanmar’s military junta has proposed a new cyber law which will significantly restrict the free sharing of information on the Internet. This new legislation will allow the government to collect users’ data and personal information. Specific articles also allow the suspension and deletion of accounts that post any content critical of the law or government.
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Aleksandar Iliev is studying Journalism and Film Studies at AUBG. He believes everyone deserves to be heard.
