Myanmar’s Weaponization of COVID-19 3. Government Declarations Give Way to Arrests One week later, on 31 March, police and International has condemned the prosecution officers of the military’s special branch raided as “trumped up terrorism charges for informing and shut down ethnic Rakhine news organization the public about the situation in their country.”38 Narinjara’s office, interrogated reporters, and Nay Myo Lin was released 10 days after his put out a warrant to arrest editor Khaing Mrat arrest and the charges against him dropped. He Kyaw, who is facing charges of violating the has called the same for Khaing Mrat Kyaw and 2014 Counter-Terrorism Law for publishing Thalun Zaung Htet, both of whom have gone interviews with the AA.33 Another editor of into hiding to avoid arrest while their charges of the local media organization Yangon Khit Thit violating the Counter-Terrorism Law remain. Media, Thalun Zaung Htet, was also charged The crackdown on editors highlights a pat- under the same allegations.34 Mandalay-based tern in which the government issues a directive editor of the Voice of Myanmar, Nay Myo Lin, demonizing a perceived Myanmar military ene- was arrested and charged with violating the my, and state security forces use it to selectively same statute.35 silence their critics. Charges are brought against Ethnic media coalition BNI – which includes some as a scare tactic to force those remaining Narinjara – wrote an open letter to President into self-censorship. Despite the civil war and a Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu pandemic, independent media in Myanmar are Kyi on 2 April, asking that the charges against therefore forced to choose between silence or the editors be dropped.36 Former UN Special the risk of state-sanctioned punishment for de- Rapporteur Yanghee Lee also echoed the call, fying repressive government orders. pointing to the need for open and continued Criminal charges surrounding freedom of reporting on armed conflict.37 Transparency expression have extended to artists as well. 33 Saw Nang & Richard C. Paddock. “Myanmar Journalists Who Quoted Rebel Spokesman Face Arrest.” New York Times. 3 April 2020. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/world/asia/myanmar-journalists-arrest-arakan.html 34 RFA Myanmar Service. “Two Myanmar Editors in Hiding Over Interview With Banned Arakan Army.” 15 April 2020. Radio Free Asia. Available at: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/editors-charges-04152020212228.html 35 Reuters. “Myanmar charges journalist under terrorism law, blocks news websites.” 31 March 2020. Al Jazeera. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/myanmar-charges-journalist-terrorism-law-blocks-newssite-200401055032109.html 36 BNI Multimedia Group. “BNI Multimedia Group’s Open Letter to the State Counsellor and President.” 7 April 2020. Mizzima. Available at: https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/bni-multimedia-groups-open-letter-state-counsellor-and-president 37 Khaymani Win. “Voice of Myanmar Journalist Freed 10 Days After Arrest for Interview of Banned Arakan Army. 9 April 2020. RFA Myanmar Service. Available at: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/journalist-freed-04092020165042.html 38 RFA Myanmar Service. “Two Myanmar Editors in Hiding Over Interview With Banned Arakan Army.” Radio Free Asia. 15 April 2020. Available at: https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/editors-charges-04152020212228.html 13