Singaporean and Malaysian journalists arrested in Myanmar for using drones: Report
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean journalist has been arrested in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar for using a drone to take pictures, according to Myanmar news reports on Friday (Oct 27).
The Myanmar media identified the detained journalists as Singaporean Lau Hon Meng, 44, and Malaysian Mok Choy Lin, 47.
Channel NewsAsia understands that the Singaporean arrested is currently a journalist with the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Source: CNA/aa
Myanmar to charge Singaporean, Malaysian journalists on assignment for Turkish state TV: Officials
NAYPYITAW/YANGON: Myanmar police said on Saturday (Oct 28) they were preparing to charge journalists working for Turkey's state broadcaster TRT, their local interpreter and driver for bringing a drone into the country without permission.
The police were also expecting to obtain court permission to remand the four for up to 15 days as they prepare to charge them under Section 8 of the Export and Import Law. Violators of it can be jailed for up to three years.
The journalists - Lau Hon Meng from Singapore and Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia - plus their interpreter Aung Naing Soe and driver Hla Tin have been detained since Friday for flying a drone near the parliament in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw.
The development comes amid tension between Turkey and Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis. In early September, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the death of the Rohingya constituted a "genocide" aimed at Muslim communities in the region, a charge Myanmar denies.
More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled the majority-Buddhist Myanmar for neighbouring Bangladesh since security forces responded to Rohingya militants' attacks on Aug 25 by launching a crackdown.
Turkish broadcaster TRT said on its website that the network "is in discussions with Myanmar authorities to secure their release. Both journalists had valid visas".
ARRAIGNMENT PLANNED
Myanmar police spokesman Police Colonel Myo Thu Soe told Reuters the journalists "illegally imported the drone" and all four will be charged under the Export and Import Law.
The law does not specifically refer to drones, but it says that "no person shall export or import restricted, prohibited and banned goods," and that, "without obtaining license, no person shall export or import the specified goods which is to obtain permission."
"We are going to the court now to obtain the arraignment, we will get it today," said Police Lieutenant Tun Tun Win. He said that the remand will be for up to 15 days but police expect to file charges within 10 days.
Several journalists in Myanmar have been arrested this year, leading rights groups to warn that the gains made in press freedom since the end of military rule risk being reversed under the administration of national leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The two foreign journalists are detained at police station no. 1 in Naypyitaw, while the two Myanmar nationals have been transferred to a prison in the nearby town of Pyinmana.
On Friday night, about 25 police staged an evening raid on the Yangon house of the Myanmar interpreter, well-known domestic reporter Aung Naing Soe, seizing his computer memory sticks and searching documents.
Myanmar state broadcaster MRTV said the ministry of foreign affairs had informed the Singaporean and Malaysian embassies about the matter.
Source: CNA/nc
Singapore Embassy in Yangon in contact with journalist arrested in Myanmar: MFA
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Embassy in Yangon is in contact with Myanmar authorities over the detention of a freelance Singaporean photographer in the country, a spokesperson for Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday (Oct 30).
Lau Hon Meng was detained for making an unauthorised video recording of Myanmar's Hluttaw, or House of Representatives building last Friday.
On Monday, the MFA spokesperson said that the Singapore Embassy in Yangon was notified by the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mr Lau's arrest on the same day.
Investigations by the Myanmar authorities are ongoing, MFA said.
It added that the Singapore Embassy is in contact with Myanmar authorities over Mr Lau's detention.
"The Embassy will provide the necessary consular assistance to Mr Lau and is closely monitoring developments to ensure that due process is accorded to Mr Lau. MFA and the Embassy are in close contact with Mr Lau’s family," MFA said.
Mr Lau, a freelancer contracted by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, was arrested last week in Nay Pyi Taw, together with Malaysian journalist Mok Choy Lin.
Both Mr Lau and Ms Mok will be held in custody until their first court hearing on charges that carry up to three years in jail or a fine for the import and export of "restricted or banned goods" without obtaining a license.
Source: CNA/aa