SECOND TIME ARREST OF KACHIN JOURNALIST BY ETHNIC ARMED GROUP Tar Lin Maung, an editor from Uru Daily News (former CDM journalist), was arrested in Saing Taung village, Hpakant Township by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). He was released the following day, though the reason for his arrest remains unclear; some speculate it may be linked to his social media posts about local taxation or resource collection. This was not his first arrest– he was previously detained by the same group and released after a month of detention. These incidents highlight the persistent constraints on independent journalism in Myanmar, where fear and pressure stem not only A resistance group member in Hpakant commented “Regarding the arrest of Ko Tar Lin Maung, he is someone working in the media sector. He has also stood with the resistance and from the military but also from revolutionary and collaborated with groups such as the KIO/KIA and KPDF. He has ethnic armed actors. It also been actively contributing to the revolution. What I want to say reflects a fragile media is that, if any issue arises, whether it involves an armed group or environment in which any other organisation, it would be better to invite and question the person respectfully, rather than arresting and assaulting reporters must navigate them. Such actions harm the image of everyone involved.” competing power structures and risks, even within Moreover, U Toe Gyi, a local journalist from the Upper Burma News Agency (UBNA) who was arrested by people defence forces in resistance-controlled areas. Madaya township, still remains in detention. There have been four documented incidents of journalists being arrested by non-military forces: 1)Tar Lin Maung and Naung Yoe, journalists based in Hpakhant, Kachin State, were arrested by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in September 2024, 2) Mudra, a Rakhine-based journalist, was arrested by Arakan Army (AA) in September 2025, 3) the case of U Toe Gyi and 4) Tar Lin Maung’s second arrest by the KIA. Update on Journalism and Media Safety in Myanmar 6