The office of the Development Media Group (DMG) located in Sittwe Township, Rakhine State, was raided by the Military Council and the police, confirmed by an official from DMG..
At approximately 9:00pm on October 29th, a group of at least 10 soldiers and policemen, traveling in three police vehicles, conducted a raid on the office premises and detained a night watchman, Ko Soe Win Aung.
Ko Htet Aung, a DMG reporter, was arrested by the Military Council while photographing a food donation ceremony to Buddhist monks in Sittwe Township, and subsequently compelled to disclose the DMG office's location, resulting in the subsequent raid, the aforementioned official explained.
"When Ko Htet Aung went to take photos for the news at the ceremony, the soldiers waited and arrested him. They forced him to show the office at once. During the raid on the office, the soldiers confiscated both materials and bank books. The night watchman in the office was also arrested. It appeared that Ko Htet Aung encountered the opportunistic soldiers while covering the ceremony”, the source told Narinjara.
The official additionally mentioned that the DMG office was sealed following the soldiers' raid.
The Military Council troops also seized computers, cameras, and various other office equipment from the premises.
A family member verified to Narinjara that the soldiers conducted a search of Ko Htet Aung's residence in the afternoon, where the arrested reporter resides.
"He was staying at the office with a night watchman, even on the weekend holidays. Now both of them have been arrested, and the office is closed”, the source said.
DMG’s official pointed out that the reporter's arrest and the forced closure of the media outlet's office represent violations of press freedom and the public's right to access accurate information.
"This act stifles media freedom and the people's right to the truth, which should never happen. In Rakhine State, DMG is a trusted news source that prioritizes accuracy and comprehensive reporting from various perspectives. It's disheartening to see a media outlet like DMG, which strives to present a balanced view of the government (Military Council) and the other side (resistance movement), facing such treatment. It's akin to forcibly shutting the eyes and ears of the local communities. DMG has also endured significant losses due to this situation, making it extremely challenging to continue reporting. The raid has sent shockwaves through the entire news world”, he told Narinjara.
At present the two detained DMG employees are held in custody at Sittwe No. 1 Police Station.
