Published February 4, 2021, 9:12 PM
A network of press freedom organizations in the Philippines has called on Myanmar’s state forces to respect the freedom of the press and freedom of expression after the latter’s military has taken over its government and declared a year-long state of emergency.
In a statement, Freedom for Media, Freedom for All Network viewed the actions of Myanmar’s military to reverse the country’s electoral result following a general election as “a blatant attack on democratic rights and freedoms.”
The press freedom organizations whose members composed of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), MindaNews, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Philippine Press Institute (PPI) raised concerns following reports of journalists being assaulted and placed under surveillance by state forces in the days leading to the coup.