Myanmar Regime Trying To Hound Independent Exile Media Through Interpol

Myanmar’s military regime on Tuesday claimed to have filed charges and sought Interpol red notices against exile media outlets and key opposition figures.

Deputy Affairs Minister Min Thu told the Lower House that the targets include The Irrawaddy, Mizzima, DVB, Myanmar Now, and Khit Thit media outlets, alongside founding members of the parliamentary Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the National Unity Government (NUG), and financial backers of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF).

Min Thu made the remarks in response to a lawmaker from the military’s proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Than Than Aye, who asked whether the regime had plans to arrest exiled opposition figures, whom she accused of sowing mischief.

The official said individuals behind exile media outlets and opposition figures “are prosecuted under counter-terrorism, penal, and related laws, with authorities issuing Interpol Red Notices, revoking passports, and engaging international police networks under extradition agreements,” according to regime media.

But the deputy minister admitted that any attempts to haul them back to Myanmar are unlikely to meet with success, saying foreign countries “in practice mainly arrest and extradite suspects wanted for drug offenses and other felonies.”

He added that the regime has revoked the passports of over 1,300 opposition figures who fled the country while monitoring and blacklisting Myanmar nationals who support anti-government activities from abroad.

During the parliamentary discussion, regime-appointed House Speaker Khin Yi, a former police chief, pointed out that Interpol does not involve itself in religious and political issues, so any cases brought by the regime need to be criminal charges.

In reality, Interpol’s charter strictly prohibits providing assistance for notices requested against political opponents, journalists or critics of a government.

“Journalists are not criminals, and journalism is not a crime. No Interpol member would risk its reputation by arresting reporters at the Myanmar junta’s request,” said Toe Zaw Latt of the Independent Press Council Myanmar based in Thailand.

“Our host country knows that many Myanmar journalists are sheltering here, yet they deliberately do not arrest or extradite us. Instead of targeting us, the regime should be praying it isn’t sent to the International Criminal Court.”

When the military seized power from the elected civilian government in February 2021, it immediately raided media offices, arrested journalists and revoked their publishing licenses, forcing independent media including The Irrawaddy into exile.

The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) says the regime is holding at least 18 journalists including Irrawaddy publisher Win Thu and Sai Zaw Thaike, a photographer with Myanmar Now. At least five journalists were killed by the regime.

Myanmar ranks a dismal 166 th out of 180 countries on the latest Press Freedom Index and is the world’s second-largest jailer of journalist after China.