Two journalists working for a local media organisation in Kachin State have been detained and assaulted by a mining company there. According to an article in The Irrawaddy, Seng Mai, publisher and editor-in-chief of Myitkyina Journal, said that employees of Tha Khin Sit Mining and Import and Export Company “forced” two reporters from the journal’s office to go to the company headquarters. They were held for more than two hours and “threatened with repercussions” if they didn’t remove a story about the company from the website. The story was about local residents planning to protest against a planned banana plantation overseen by Tha Khin Sit. The journalists were held in separate rooms and it is reported that one reporter was slapped in the face with a copy of the journal. Another reporter was “forced to do 300 sit-ups as punishment”. The reporters were allegedly released after the journal contacted local police, who surrounded the property. The article said that representatives for Tha Khin Sit could not be reached for comment. The issue raises further concerns about press freedom in Myanmar. Critics say it has gone backwards in Myanmar in recent years.
