On 27 September, Htet Htet Khine, a freelance BBC Media Action reporter, was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor, according to a statement by BBC Media Action, which did not specify the charge she was convicted under.
Previously, on 15 September, Htet Htet Khine received her first three-year prison sentence with hard labor for allegedly violating Section 505(a) of the penal code, which criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news.
The Committee to protect journalists (CPJ) has called on the Myanmar authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Htet Htet Khine and stop jailing journalists for their work.
According to a report by the AP, Htet Htet Khine was also facing charges under the Unlawful Association Act for allegedly contacting “illegal organizations,” which carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment.
“Myanmar’s junta must reverse this outrageous verdict against journalist Htet Htet Khine and set her free immediately and unconditionally,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “The military regime must stop treating journalists like criminals for merely doing their jobs.”
The journalist, who has been detained since 15 August 2021, received a reduction in her sentence for time served and therefore faces five years of hard labor, according to the BBC.
On the occasion of this latest increase in Htet Htet Khine’s sentence BBC Media Action Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Nursey OBE, said: “BBC Media Action is dismayed and alarmed to hear of this additional sentence for our freelance producer, Htet Htet Khine, in Myanmar. After more than a year in detention she now faces another five years of hard labour.
“We remain concerned for her safety and well-being in detention, and call for the release of Htet Htet Khine and other media workers who have been unjustly detained in Myanmar.
“As an independent nongovernmental organisation, BBC Media Action works to support the people of Myanmar with projects focused on better health and greater social inclusion. It is critical that our staff are permitted to continue their work without interference.”
Htet Htet Khine was moved after her 15 September trial to Insein prison in the city of Yangon, news reports said. Myanmar’s Ministry of Information did not immediately reply to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.
Htet Htet Khine, is a freelance journalist and former reporter for BBC Media Action, where she hosted the “Khan Sar Kyi” or “Feel It” television news program. She was arrested on 15 August 2021, at an apartment in Yangon with fellow journalist Sithu Aung Myint, who remains in pre-trial detention on 505(a) charges, according to CPJ.
Myanmar was the world’s second-worst jailer of journalists as of 1 December 2021, according to CPJ’s annual prison census.
