CPJ condemn alleged assault of Myanmar journalist in prison

BANGKOK: The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the alleged physical abuse of imprisoned Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Kyaw at Yangon’s Insein Prison and calls on authorities to immediately release him on humanitarian grounds.

Prison authorities orchestrated an assault on Myat Thu Kyaw and three other political prisoners using members of an incarcerated Taiwanese drug syndicate, acting on the direct orders of prison officials, according to an AAMIJ English report and the publication’s editor, Nay Myo, who communicated with CPJ via messaging app and requested to use a pseudonym for security reasons.

Myat Thu Kyaw sustained serious injuries to his eyes, face, and arms and was temporarily admitted to a prison hospital for treatment, Nay Myo said.

“The alleged physical abuse of Myat Thu Kyaw is another appalling example of the grotesque conditions imprisoned journalists face in Myanmar,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “CPJ urges Myanmar authorities to ensure Myat Thu Kyaw’s safety and well-being, end all forms of abuse in detention, and unconditionally release him, along with all journalists jailed for their work.”