RSF calls for thorough Investigation of Bombing at Journalist’s Home

By Reporters Without Borders • March 16, 2016

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Burmese authorities to do everything possible to arrest and prosecute all those who had anything to do with last week’s bomb explosion at the home of Min Min, the chief editor of the Root Investigative Agency (RIA), in the troubled western state of Arakan.

It was the first time that a media professional has been the target of an act of violence of this kind in Burma.

“We are very concerned so see media freedom’s enemies crossing this threshold,” said Benjamin Ismaïl, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.

“We take note of the initial measures adopted by the security forces and we urge them to redouble efforts to identify and catch this attack’s perpetrators and instigators. A strong message must be sent to those who target news providers, in order to prevent a climate of impunity and an ensuing climate of violence and self-censorship.”

Threats received by RIA on FacebookBased in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan, RIA has often been the target of threats, especially on social networks, ever since its creation in August 2015. RIA’s journalists have been warned on Facebook that “your time is near.”

A message posted after the explosion said: “This was only a warning and more attacks are coming.” In Viber and Facebook discussion groups, a price of “20 lakhs” (27,000 euros) has been put on the heads of RIA’s two leading journalists.

Some impacts of the explosionThe bomb went off in the garden of Min Min’s home at around 11:20 p.m. on 10 March. No one was hurt, but only by chance. The police protected the house until the next morning.

The local authorities said the Arakan Army, an armed separatist group, may have been behind the bombing even if it has not claimed responsibility. RIA said it thought its investigative reported prompted the attack.

Tags: Arakan Army, Arakan State, ASEAN, Human Rights, Reporters Without Borders

This post is in: Press Release

RSF calls for thorough Investigation of Bombing at Journalist’s Home

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