From late September, Red News Agency reporter Tar Lin Maung and freelancer Naung Yo have been detained by prominent armed opposition group, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in the Hpakant Township of the northern Kachin State. Their whereabouts or status remain unknown.

On October 23, Maung posted on Facebook stating “I am fine and healthy”. However, family members of both journalists confirmed that they have been unable to communicate with them since their arrests.

The reasons for their detention are unclear, but however media reports have claimed that Maung was arrested following critical social media posts in late September. The Democratic Voice of Burma reports that Maung could not be contacted after meeting with a member of the People’s Defence Force (PDF), an ally of the KIA in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war, at a restaurant on September 29. Naung Yo was reportedly arrested while investigating Maung’s disappearance the following day.

Colonel Naw Bu, a KIA spokesperson, claimed that he was not aware of the journalists’ arrest and will investigate the matter before making any comments. The Independent Press Council Myanmar attempted to contact KIA through the National Unity Government in early October, but the journalists remain uncontactable.

The KIA is a prominent EAO in northern Myanmar that seeks greater autonomy for the Kachin ethnic minority, and has been engaged in conflict with the Myanmar military since the country’s independence. Maung and Yo are the first Myanmar journalists to be detained by an opposition group since the 2021 military coup.

MJN said: “MJN denounces any killing or arrest of journalists and requests every armed group to respect press freedom. It should not set a precedent for any armed group to suppress the freedom of the press.”

The IFJ said: “The IFJ condemns the unlawful arrests and arbitrary detention of journalists Tar Lin Maung and Naung Yo. This act undermines press freedom and poses a serious threat to the fundamental rights to freedom of expression. We urge the Kachin Independence Army to immediately release both media professionals and uphold the principles of a free and open media.”

The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) has called on the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) to immediately release two journalists detained by the group. IMJA officials stated that they will formally request the KIA to free the journalists as soon as possible.

IMJA is working with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to secure the release of the two detained journalists. A letter will be sent to the KIA today (23 October, 2024), according to IMJA Vice Chairman Ko Naing.

“We will send a direct letter to the KIA today, requesting the release of the two journalists. We are also cooperating with CPJ. Regarding support, assisting journalists detained by the military junta involves a different approach, so we are discussing the best course of action,” Ko Naing told MPA.

IMJA Chairman Ko Kyaw Min also urged the KIA, as a democratic organization, to respect the value of journalists.

“KIA is a democratic organization, which means it should uphold press freedom. In a democracy, press freedom is essential, so we will call for the immediate release of the journalists,” he said.

Journalist Ko Thurain stated that since journalists serve as the eyes and ears of the public, it is inappropriate for the KIA to detain them.

“If the journalists were detained without committing any crimes, it is equivalent to silencing the eyes and ears of the people. While I do not know the details of the case, that is my stance,” he said.

Currently, one of the detained journalists, Ko Tar Lin Maung, posted on Facebook on October 23, saying, “I am fine and healthy.” However, he has not been able to communicate with his family or news agency.

The two journalists detained by the KIA are Ko Tar Lin Maung, a reporter for the Red News Agency, and freelance journalist Ko Naung Yoe. They were arrested on 29 September, 2024, but their whereabouts remain unknown to their families.

On 26 September, during a clash in Sein Taung village, Ko Tar Lin Maung reported on the rescue of staff trapped in the Jade Garden restaurant by the KIA, which was carried out on orders from senior officials. He was arrested the following day.

KIA spokesperson Major Naw Bu told The 74 Media that the journalists were detained for questioning by frontline commanders.

Ko Tar Lin Maung previously worked as a reporter for the government’s Department of Public Relations and Communications before joining the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and later becoming a freelance journalist at Red News Agency after the 2021 military coup.

Ko Naung Yoe was also previously detained by the military junta on 9 March , 2021, under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code and was released in October 2022. He is currently working as a freelance journalist based in Hpakant.

Since the military coup on 1 February, 2021, more than 15 media outlets have been shut down, and seven journalists have been killed. By July 2024, 172 journalists had been arrested, with 52 still imprisoned, according to Detained Journalists Information Myanmar.