Three years ago, on 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military seized power, dismantling the democratic government. The coup has significantly compromised journalists’ ability to work freely, subjecting them to increased censorship, arrests, and violence. Thin, a journalism student, provides us with insight into the realities faced by journalists who remained in Myanmar after the military took control.
“I have already committed to give my life to journalism. Even if I lose my legs to a landmine, I will continue to use my brain and hands to serve the people whom have the right to know the truth and justice”, said Mr. Ganipe (a pseudonym) from Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).
Mr. Ganipe allowed me (the writer) to meet him through a Zoom video call since I am no longer in Myanmar; I rely on these remote conversations to understand the current situation. Meeting with him reminded me quickly of the time when I worked as a journalist back in 2012 at my home country. It was in 2011 when military’s quasi-civilian government began transitioning to democracy. One of significant changes was allowing private media houses to run daily newspapers for the first time in 2013 without requiring submission to the publishing censorship board, which was previously handled by the military government for several decades. The question popped up in my head immediately when I saw him: “Are press freedom and journalism going back to the time before 2011 that fast over the past three years?” My flow of thoughts stopped as I heard his voice from Myanmar.
While sharing his story, Mr. Ganipe adjusts his position in a secret location where temperatures soar above 35 degrees Celsius, covering his upper body with a shawl. He continues to explain one of the significant challenges of being a war video journalist: sending timely news updates despite the military’s shutdown of the Internet and phone connections. “We just got Starlink in this area five or six months ago. Before that, I couldn’t edit the video here due to the poor Internet connection. I had to upload them to a server and send links so that the media house could edit according to my news angle”, he explained.
Similarly, another journalist from a local ethnic newspaper, nicknamed Ko Gyi, has faced severe threats. His house has been searched by police and military three times, and his father was threatened at gunpoint to reveal his whereabouts. Despite his parents and wife pressuring him to abandon his career, Ko Gyi remains resolute: “I work as a journalist not for a living but because I love it. Journalists are becoming scarce and people need to know what is really happening on the ground, and I want to fight with my pen”, he passionately declared.
Struggling to maintain a semblance of safety during the civil war, Ko Gyi has spread the word among his social network, including parents and relatives, that he has resigned from his job. He maintains a low profile by using a fake name on Facebook, relocating to another township within the same region, and minimising contact and activities since 2022.
“I started going to the war zone in 2023. Before that, I rarely went outside. I blend in with civilians (he does not stay in a specific place, i.e., staying in the shelter of local humanitarian group), running together during airstrikes and shooting artillery done by military and local armed groups, and hiding at bomb shelters together with them so that no one knows I am a journalist”, he added.
I got in contact with Ko Gyi through his editor. Due to the security reasons, we did a voice call at his convenient time. Listening to his briefing, I could not help but feel proud of all journalists and reporters, whether in the war zone or elsewhere. I deeply respect their resilient standpoints and courage to continue fighting for what they believe in, risking their safety, families, and even their lives.
Being a Journalist in the Second Worst Jailer Country: More Than Just Survival
According to the 2023 census of CPJ – Committee to Protect Journalists, Myanmar ranks as the second worst jailer of journalists in the world, with 43 media personnel imprisoned. Since the coup in February 2021, at least ten media houses have been forcibly shut down, and at least three journalists/photographers have been killed in custody.
In response to the military coup and its lethal force against nonviolent protesters in February and March 2021, National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow civilian government, formed the People’s Defense Force (PDF) on 5 May 2021. The PDF operates under joint command with several ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), which have been fighting against the military junta’s State Administration Council (SAC) for decades.
During the civil war, both the military and EAOs require funding and human resources, often leading both sides to human rights violations, including collecting soldiers by force and other crimes. Journalists, tasked with documenting the truth, find their lives constantly threatened from both the military and EAOs in different ways, making their work even more perilous. Both Mr. Ganipe and Ko Gyi highlighted the challenges of building relationships with EAOs while adhering to press freedom and media ethics.
It is important to not forget that fighting against the military alongside shadow civilian government and EAOs does not mean that the press would be the voice for those groups. Journalists must always be the voice for public concerns and provide timely and accurate information, except when it comes to operational security, national interests, and safety of the public.
“It is crucial for any group with power, whether armed or political, to understand journalistic ethics and press freedom. My area is now almost fully controlled by the NUG and several EAOs,* but I have been threatened because of some of my reporting on battlefield events. Our media house had to meet with them face-to-face and share knowledge about journalism”, Ko Gyi shared about his challenge in building relationships with EAOs.
He emphasised that some sensitive information must remain unpublished, weighing the value of life against newsworthiness. Journalists in a war zone have to inform NUG and EAOs when entering battlefields or landmine areas for security reasons and inquire whether it is safe to proceed. According to BBC Burmese news video, there are limitations on accessing certain areas for reporting due to war’s momentum or lack of permission from EAO groups given the reason as security.
Personally, I believe that it will soon be critical to conduct knowledge sharing and awareness trainings on journalistic ethics and the role of the press, while building relationships between journalists and EAOs. Another important insight from conversations with these two journalists is the need for open dialogues to strengthen the EAOs’ perception of constructive reporting by the press. Such measures should be seen as immediate remedy in bridging the relationships and such steps will be a huge deal towards reinventing, restructuring, and improving the rich and meaningful federal democratic system.
Challenges do Not Stop There
“Going to the battlefield for video footage requires transportation. I rent a motorbike from a friend who even shares half the fuel cost because prices are so high”, said Mr. Ganipe from DVB. Working in the conflict zones does not yield high salaries and often fails to cover all expenses. Additionally, journalists must endure daily discomfort, wearing heavy bulletproof vests and helmets while carrying recording equipment.
As per the World Bank’s press release in December 2023, the value of the local currency (Kyats) is plummeting, and escalating conflicts since October 2023 have led to further price rises. Despite skyrocketing prices, income poverty reached a new high in the period from August to November 2023 in every state and region, as per the report from International Food Policy Research Institute – IFPRI.
All in all, being a war journalist in Myanmar is fraught with peril and immense challenges. These journalists risk their lives daily to bring the public’s right to know the truth, navigating through Internet blackouts, transportation cut-offs, threats from both the military and armed groups, and the harsh realities of war. Their dedication underscores the crucial role of journalism not only in conflict zones but also cities, where the need for timely and just information is paramount. As Myanmar continues to grapple with political turmoil and civil war, the resilience and courage of these journalists remain a beacon of hope and truth for the people in Myanmar and the world.
*RFA: The launch of Operation 1027, which started on 27 October 2023, was a game-changing cooperative attack against the Myanmar military by the Three Brotherhood Alliance of ethnic armies in the north of the country. The alliance of three ethnic resistance organisations – the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army (AA) – have been broadly supportive of the National Unity Government (NUG), the shadow civilian government.
Sources
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- Journalists Paying a Heavy Price in Myanmar
- IPI Condemns Torturing and Killing of Journalist in Military Custody
- Journalists in Myanmar
- Interview with Journalists in War (BBC News)
- Interview with Journalist (The Irrawaddy News)
- Get Arrested Inside or Go Hungry Abroad: Myanmar’s Journalists
- 2023 Prison Census: Jailed Journalist Numbers Near Record High, Israel Imprisonments Spike
- What a Rapidly Changing Civil War Means for the Future of Myanmar
- Operation 1027 Moves Myanmar Civil War Closer to a Tipping Point
- Myanmar: Military Should Be Investigated for War Crimes in Response to ‘Operation 1027’
- Understanding PDFs in Myanmar
- Livelihoods and Welfare: Findings from the Sixth Round of the Myanmar Household Welfare Survey