Bangkok, February 26, 2025—Myanmar’s military government must immediately end the physical abuse of imprisoned Myanmar Now photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, which appears to be in retaliation for his exposure of the mistreatment of inmates, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
Sai Zaw Thaike, who was sentenced to 20 years for sedition in 2023, has been subjected to “daily physical abuse” and “retaliatory torture” since January in Insein Prison in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon, the local news publication reported and its editor-in-chief Swe Win confirmed to CPJ.
The abuse is believed to be in response to Sai Zaw Thaike and two other prisoners informing visiting National Human Rights Commission representatives that prison staff were violating other inmates’ human rights, Myanmar Now said, citing a source connected to the prison.
“Myanmar’s junta must identify and hold to account those responsible for assaulting journalist Sai Zaw Thaike,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “This type of abuse is cruel and grotesque. Myanmar’s military government must stop jailing and abusing journalists now,” Crispin said.
CPJ was unable to independently confirm the allegations but torture in Myanmar custody has long been documented by groups such as the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners and reported to CPJ researchers. Former inmates have also reported beatings, burns, and electric shocks being administered at Insein Prison.
Myanmar ranked as the world’s third-worst jailer of journalists, with at least 35 members of the press behind bars for their work, according to CPJ’s 2024 prison census.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Information did not immediately reply to CPJ’s email requesting comment.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.
Committee to Protect Journalists | Radio Free (2025-02-26T13:10:18+00:00) Myanmar journalist Sai Zaw Thaike repeatedly beaten, abused in prison. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2025/02/26/myanmar-journalist-sai-zaw-thaike-repeatedly-beaten-abused-in-prison/
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