Myanmar’s military regime detained two Myeik-based reporters working for Dawei Watch on December 11, the Dawei-based news outlet said in a statement on Wednesday.

Junta soldiers told family members that Ko Aung Hsan Oo and Ko Myo Myint Oo were arrested for writing news stories, the statement said.

The two were arrested without a warrant, and their mobile phones and family members’ mobile phones, including two laptops belonging to Dawei Watch, were also confiscated by the junta soldiers.

According to the latest investigation, the two men are being detained and questioned at the interrogation centre, the statement said.

Journalists are demanding the immediate release of the Dawei Watch reporters who are being illegally detained and under investigation, as writing news is not a crime.

Dawei Watch is a respected news outlet that operates under a media licence.

The regime detained two reporters and a staff employee of Dawei Watch on January 18, 2022, and released the trio eight days later.

After the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, many journalists have been arrested and media freedoms have been greatly curtailed.

Reporters from various Myanmar media outlets face prosecution and many journalists and employees of new organisations have gone into hiding.

The regime arrested reporter Ko Htet Aung and security guard Ko Soe Win Aung of DMG on October 29 as more than 20 junta troops raided and sealed off DMG’s head office in the Arakan State capital Sittwe.

Journalists say the regime is targeting journalists and news outlets for exposing its human rights violations.

“After the military coup, the regime began to target the news media directly. The regime started to label the news media that actually exposed human rights violations as subversive media. The regime’s arresting of journalists is a deliberate threat to prevent journalists from reporting,” said an Arakan State-based reporter.

Dozens of journalists have been detained since the coup and at least 50 remain in prisons across the country.