PEC condemns the killing of Chin journalist, demands fair probe

Jan. 10: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, condemns the killing of Chin journalist Pu Tui Dim by the Burmese military forces and demands a fair probe into the incidents that led to his death. Tui Dim died in the police firing at Matupi locality of Chin State in north-western Myanmar on 9 January 2022.

The victim (35 years old) used to work for Khonumthung Media Group, an independent news agency covering Chin State, Kalay-Kabaw area, Indo-Myanmar border and overall Myanmar related issues in English and Burmese languages. Two teenagers were also killed in the police firing at the same location.

“Tui Dim becomes the third journalist to be killed this year after Amady John Wesley and Wilguens Louissaint (both from Haiti). We demand authentic probes and also justice as well as adequate compensations to the victim families. Journalists must not be targeted by anyone anywhere in the world,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/casualties.shtml).

Myanmar (known as Burma or Brahmadesh), which is presently ruled by the Min Aung Hlaing-led military junta after deposing the democratically elected Aung San Suu Kyi-led government in Naypietaw on 1 February 2021, lost two journalists to assailants, said Nava Thakuria, PEC south-east Asian representative based in Guwahati.
Freelance photojournalist Ko Soe Naing died under military custody on 14 December and he became the first media-victims in the south-east Asian country. Naing was arrested from Yangon while he was covering an anti-junta demonstration on 10 December. Later journalist Sai Win Aung (also known as A Sai Kay) died of head injuries caused by the Tatmadaw-operated shells at Maekheewar village in Karen State on 25 December.