Myanmar junta jails journalist for life in ongoing crackdown

YANGON, Myanmar: A military court in Myanmar has jailed a journalist for life and sentenced another to 20 years in prison after convicting them under a counterterrorism law, their editor said on Thursday.

Myo Myint Oo and Aung San Oo, who work for the independent online news service Dawei Watch, were sentenced after being denied the right to legal defence and not being allowed to speak in court, editor Ko Kyaw told AFP.

Since overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi´s civilian government in February 2021, Myanmar´s military junta has waged a sweeping and bloody campaign against dissent, including targeting independent journalists.

The two journalists were arrested at their homes in the coastal town of Myeik, about 560-kms south of Yangon on December 11. Myo Mynit Oo, 40, was handed a life sentence on May 15, while Aung San Oo, 49, was handed a 20-year jail term on February 16.