Manipur Journalists’ Body Urges Govt to Help Fleeing Myanmar Scribes Reach UNHCR in Delhi

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) has raised serious concerns over the mate of media and media persons in neighbouring Myanmar, where the military junta seized power through a coup against the civilian government in February. 

The journalists’ body said that it has come to know of three journalists who have fled from Myanmar and taken shelter at Moreh town, which is located on the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur. These journalists worked for Mizzima, an independent media organisation of Myanmar.

In a press statement, AMWJU said that the three journalists were living in fear that they might be sent back to Myanmar where their life and security would be at risk. “They are also fearful of harassment by Indian security establishment,” the union said.

Appealing to the Manipur government to give respect to the Mizzima journalists and provide them a safe passage to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Delhi, the AMWJU reminded the government that Mizzima has been an India-friendly publication with which the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati had signed an agreement in 2018 for content sharing.

However, post-coup, the ruling military took away Mizzima’s license to operate, raided its office in Yangon, froze its bank account and arrested several journalists who worked with the publication, the press statement said. 

Referring to the Union Home Ministry’s February directive to the Northeast States bordering Myanmar to not allow illegal migrants, the journalists’ body appealed saying, “…the Mizzima journalists at Moreh are obviously refugees seeking asylum within India due to persecution in their own country.

More than 700 people in Myanmar have been killed in a brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protesters and others who opposed the coup on February 1 that ended the country’s decade-long experiment with democracy.

DUJ Solidarity with Myanmar Journalists

The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has called upon the Manipur state government to ensure protection to the three Myanmar journalists who have fled the military junta and have taken shelter in the border town of Moreh.

In a statement, DUJ said it joins the all Manipur Working Journalists Union (MWJU) in supporting the demand that the journalists at least be saved from the massacre they would meet at home.

The DUJ also said it supported the demand that rather than be sent back, state governments should negotiate through the Centre to give the three journalists a safe passage to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New Delhi for seeking official refugee status under the international convention on refugees.

“According to the details available, the three journalists are from Mizzima, which is a multimedia news organisation in Myanmar. The DUJ shares the view that the people of Myanmar in general need India’s help from a brutal military rule following a military coup,” the statement added.