Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw is arrested by police in Yangon on February 27 (AP)The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has called on Myanmar to release Associated Press journalist Thein Zaw and five other reporters detained while covering protests in the south-east Asian nation. It specifically mentioned at least four journalists due in court this month after being arrested last summer covering Black Lives Matter protests. Authorities charged Thein Zaw and the other journalists with violating a public order law that could lead to them being imprisoned for up to three years. Matthew Hall, SPJ“Those journalists, like all journalists, are doing their jobs, and shouldn’t be punished for it. The group said it was also “appalled” that American journalists continued to face charges “for doing a public service”.

Source: Irish Independent March 07, 2021 00:56 UTC