Journalists, Volunteer Relief Workers Arrested in Rangoon

About a dozen people including journalists and Nargis Cyclone volunteer relief workers were arrested throughout October as the Burmese government cracked down on overseas private donations for cyclone victims.

According to Burmese journalists, authorities arrested at least 12 people in the past weeks, including eight journalists.

“As far as we know, at least 12 people were detained and eight journalists were among those arrested,” said a journalist based in Rangoon, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A Burmese human rights group in exile, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma (AAPP), confirmed that since early October, Burmese authorities have conducted arrest raids on the homes of journalists and activists.

“We confirmed at least nine people were detained,” said Tate Naing, the secretary of the AAPP. “The number of arrests has increased recently. We are following the recent crackdown.”

Tate Naing said former pro-democracy activists were among those arrested.

According to sources in Rangoon, journalists Jay Paing, a freelance journalist; Thant Zin Soe, a news editor at Foreign Affairs; and Min Satta were identified as among those arrested.

However, when contacted by The Irrawaddy, an official at Living Color Media Group, the publisher of Foreign Affairs, said it had no information about whether Thant Zin Soe was arrested or had just disappeared.

“These days, Burmese intelligence agents are closely watching journalists,” said a Rangoon journalist. 

Members of the independent relief group, Lin Lat Kyal, were among those arrested, allegedly for accepting relief donations from abroad.

A group of journalists and private citizens founded Lin Lat Kyal shortly after Cyclone Nargis hit Burma in May 2008. Authorities suspect that overseas Burmese students and Burmese living in Singapore and the United Kingdom fund the group with private donations.

A Lin Lat Kyal member said authorities told his arrested colleagues that they wanted information about the group.

In military-ruled Burma, most activities by independent relief works or civil society groups are not allowed by authorities. The regime requires such groups to be under the authority of government agencies or state-sponsored groups such as the Union Solidarity and Development Association. 

Dozens of private citizens who responded to help the cyclone victims in the days following the disaster, including the well-known comedian Zarganar, have been arrested during the past two years. Currently, 19 arrested relief workers are being detained. 

Sources said businessmen who conducted money remittance transactions were also among those detained recently. 

“About seven people who were involved in remittance were taken away by the Special Branch,” said a Rangoon businessman, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said government agents interrogated them to determine who had received funds from abroad.

In September, the Burmese regime granted amnesty to 7,114 prisoners. Human rights groups said 128 political prisoners were among those released. According to the AAPP, there are currently 2,119 political prisoners in Burma including 46 journalists.