Hsu Mon Phyo - Myanmar Collapse
"Writing and publishing news during a conflict is extremely difficult. The people on both sides are seething with anger and are attacking those who write and publish news about the conflict online. Nevertheless, I continued to write and publish news after my publication license was revoked. As a result, the military regime placed an arrest warrant in front of my house. The best way to deal with this, is to insist on people’s right to access information. We do not want to remain silent."
Listen to Hsu Mon Phyo telling her story here:
Democracy and human rights in Myanmar face challenges as a result of the military coup. The Burmese people's right to freedom of expression and right to information is being lost due to this military repression. Most media are forbidden to publish.
The military regime issued arrest warrants against owners, founders and editors of media organisations. Therefore, it was safer for me to flee to the liberated area. But even there, I was threatened because of my gender. While I was writing news articles in a house on stilts in the jungle, a local male resident - who had his tent under this house - angrily came up to me. As a woman, I was not supposed to be above him. He got so upset and pulled a gun. Because of the discriminatory belief that men are superior to women, I have been threatened with death.
Writing and publishing news during a conflict is extremely difficult. The people on both sides are seething with anger and are attacking those who write and publish news about the conflict online. Nevertheless, I continued to write and publish news after my publication license was revoked. As a result, the military regime placed an arrest warrant in front of my house. The best way to deal with this, is to insist on people's right to access information. We do not want to remain silent.
Most Myanmar journalists are in exile, living and working illegally in an unprotected situation. They are only allowed to work as a migrant. This basically means that, even if they are allowed to stay legally, they are still not allowed to be journalists. That is why they can be prosecuted at any time. It is very important to get backing in situations like this. Free Press Unlimited supports the journalists of my organisation Delta News Agency (DNA). They provide effective emergency assistance for those who need help to move internally or externally for security reasons.
During conflicts or wars, men are seen as stronger and the role of women is often neglected. Women are listened to less and less, while we have the right to have our voices heard. This is important because women's participation in the media has a positive impact on producing balanced news.