Myanmar Junta to press charges against a Japanese journalist
It has been reported that Myanmar has pressed charges against a Japanese journalist for spreading “fake news” in the latest blow to press freedom following the military coup. Yuki Kitazumi which is a Japanese freelance reporter has been apprehended during the previous month and was charged under the “fake news” law during the World Press Freedom Day.
Kitazumi is one of the 50 journalists being held captive in Myanmar as part of the military efforts to control the protests happening ever since the junta has come up in power. Myanmar has been in disarray since then with 750 reported killings as the security forces stepped in to quell the protests.
An unidentified Japanese embassy official has been cited saying that despite being held captive for several weeks in the Yangon’s Insein prison where political prisoners have been taken in, Kitazumi did not have any health problems.
Kitazumi has been detained since April 18 — the second time he had been arrested since the coup. During the crackdown on protesters that happened in February, he was also beaten up, was arrested and was released shortly after.
