3/25/25, 4:48 PM Violation of Media Freedom in February 2025 – Athan Photojournalist Sai Zaw Theik from Myanmar Now was atrociously arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison with severe laws while documenting Cyclone Mocha, which happened in Rakhine State in May 2023. A Hpakant-based citizen journalist was attempted assassination Tin Hlaing, a Hpakant-based citizen journalist, was attempted assassination by an anonymous shooter at noon on 28 February 2025 through journalist Naung Yoe’s report on Facebook. However, the assassination was not successful. He fought the assassin to death. Moreover, the shooter also ran away. Most of Kachin State’s townships, including Hpakant Township, are controlled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and the KIA has also arrested local journalists which resulted in limiting their ability to report news. However, it is not yet known which individual or organization committed the shooting. Monitoring Media Repression in Myanmar https://athanmyanmar.org/violation-of-media-freedom-in-february-2025/ 3/5