An interview with U Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM), about the killing of two freelance journalists in the army’s raid on a house in Kyaikto.
On 21 August, military council troops opened fire on a house in Let Pya village in Kyaikto Township in Mon State, alleging the presence of resistance forces. The attack resulted in the deaths of four people, including two members of the revolutionary force.
Among those killed are Citizen Journalist (CJ) Ko Htet Myat and CJ Ko Win Htut Oo from The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). Residents said that the house targeted and shot at by the troops belonged to Ko Htet Myat.
When the military council force raided Ko Htet Myat Thu’s house with excessive forces, neither the journalists nor the revolutionary forces put up any resistance. Ko Win Htut Oo died on the spot, while Ko Htet Myat Thu was shot dead after being captured by the military council force.
The Karen Information Center (KIC) interviewed U Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the IPCM about the IPCM’s view on the deaths of journalists, ongoing efforts, and the guidelines for ground reporters to follow.
Q: Two young journalists were among those shot and killed by the military council at a house in Kyaikto Township. How did you come by this information?
A: The house where the journalists were staying was surrounded by around 30 soldiers. Kyaikto is a small town. Two people first died on the spot in the shooting. Two injured people were arrested. What we know is that they were unarmed. The army’s Telegram channel falsely reported they were arrested along with weapons and those killed in the shooting are members of PDFs.
The two killed were linked to the revolution. It is certain that the other two were unarmed. They were real journalists. It is clear that they were deliberately targeted and shot. Eyewitnesses confirm that they did not resist and were not interrogated by the military. Therefore, it can be said that the army intentionally shot and killed these unarmed journalists despite being aware of their identity.
Q: What is your comment on the presence of both journalists and an armed group in the same house?
A: Conflicts are ongoing in 210 out of 330 townships in Myanmar. So, it’s not surprising that armed forces might be present in areas where journalists are reporting on the conflict. Both the military and resistance forces are active in Kyaikto. It is a conflict zone where both sides are engaged in fighting. Especially some youths are among those who resist the army in the whole country. Reporters are in these areas to cover the news, often at great personal risk as they provide updates to their respective media outlets. Citizen journalists (CJs) are reporting from the frontlines amidst the conflict, risking their lives. They have no weapons except their cameras.
Q: How would you respond to the comment that journalists loses their rights if they are in the same house together with revolutionaries?
A: This is a crime rather than an issue of journalistic rights. How sad is it to come into the own area without a warrant and shoot them dead? The incident occurred at Htet Myat Thu’s house. His family was at home. It is an illegal act to break into his house without a warrant and shot with a gun. Both journalists and the public have fundamental rights. According to the News Media Law, journalists have the right to seek assistance. The act of forcibly entering a house and committing murder constitutes a grave violation of these rights and is considered a war crime.
Q: The military council has alleged that all those killed were members of the PDFs. What is your perspective on this claim?
A: Recently, the military held a press conference alleging that a senior monk was killed by the PDFs, despite evidence that the army was responsible for his death. This pattern of blame-shifting is not new. The military denied its involvement in the killing of Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing in Nay Pyi Taw. The army employed psychological warfare by claiming that she was killed by a third party rather than by their own forces. The army frequently responds with false and misleading information. They have claimed that around 90 percent of human rights violations, village burnings, and murders in Myanmar are perpetrated by the PDFs. We are not surprised to hear similar accusations now. The main reason why the military is creating fake and false news is to reinforce their soldiers so that they can continue to commit the crimes brashly and audaciously.
Q: What actions will the IPCM take in response to the killing of these two young journalists?
A: We will document these matters. I will do research. We will document these incidents thoroughly and conduct an investigation. These actions go beyond mere grief and constitute war crimes. In the future, using linkage theory, we plan to identify those who issued the orders, those who carried out the crimes, and those responsible. For now, we condemn these acts and are working to determine how to address them as war crimes, beyond just the killing of journalists performing their duties.
Q: As ground reporters, what precautions should they take and what should they avoid when gathering information?
A: The foremost priority for ground reporters is security—security first, second, and third. If a situation feels unsafe, it’s better to wait for a safer opportunity. Now they were in their own houses. In areas controlled by both sides, journalists must remain vigilant even within their own territories. It would be better if they could make better arrangements for security. Journalists remain vigilant especially, in a place like Myanmar where there is a lot of conflict. They need to cover the news by approaching news sources with plans that prioritize their security as much as possible. For that, we will seek necessary help. The main thing is that journalists must adhere to safety protocols while carrying out their high-risk work.
Q: Is there is anything else you would like to add?
A: Five journalists have been killed. Now the total number of journalists killed has reached seven. I am sorry about that. More and more people know how dangerous the job is. We will take measures to protect ourselves and work together to ensure that we can continue to perform our duties professionally.
Sent by KIC
