He said: “Reporters are targeted more than ordinary civilians because they are reporting about unjust cases. In this upcoming general election, there is the possibility that we reporters will face death-threats when we cover the news.”

Leaders from Sunday’s protest used the media to demand justice and urge the government to take action against those who had committed unlawful acts against reporters.

U Myint Kyaw said: “There are death-threats to reporters, but we have not heard of any action being taken against those making the threats. As there has been no action, it is possible that reporters will be in danger again."

About one hundred protesters from MJN and other civil society organizations gathered at 4 pm on 2nd November and walked from Maha Bandula Park to the Sule Pagoda, in Rangoon. Protesters dressed in t-shirts that read “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists”, lit candles at the Sunday corner of the Sule Pagoda, and prayed for the safety of Burma’s journalists and the end of imprisonment, killing, and death-threats against the country’s reporters. The protest lasted one hour, ending around 5 pm.

According to journalist Ma Shwe Hmone, organizer of the prayer-protest, even though the protest had been organized after receiving permission from the appropriate local government offices the protesters were still harassed by the authorities.

She said: “We asked for permission to walk from Sule Park to pray at the Sule Pagoda, but we were not allowed to go.”

International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists has been recognized as an important day by the United Nations since 2009. It started in response to the killing of journalists in the Philippines in 2009.  

Burmese reporters continue to be threatened, receive death-threats, be unjustly imprisoned and murdered under the current government.