- Title: MYANMAR: Myanmar activists demand independent probe into journalist's killing
- Date: 29th October 2014
- Summary: YANGON, MYANMAR (OCTOBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) THAN DAR, WIFE OF SLAIN JOURNALIST PAR GY, TALKING TO MAN THAN DAR AND PEOPLE STANDING THAN DAR WALKING THAN DAR AND 88 GENERATION PEACE AND OPEN SOCIETY MEMBERS SITTING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) WIFE OF MURDERED JOURNALIST PAR GY, THAN DAR, CRYING AND SAYING: "My husband was never involved in KKO (Klo Htoo Baw Karen Organization) or DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Association). He was just member of Tri-colour Student Group. And after that he just worked as a freelance journalist as he was interested in taking pictures." MEDIA THAN DAR CRYING 88 GENERATION PEACE AND OPEN SOCIETY LEADERS AND THAN DAR SITTING MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) MEMBER OF 88 GENERATION PEACE AND OPEN SOCIETY, KO KO GYI, SAYING: "In accordance with the wishes of Than Dar, we will submit a letter to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission demanding an independent investigation into the murder." 88 GENERATION PEACE AND OPEN SOCIETY MEMBER TALKING
- Embargoed: 13th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Myanmar
- Country: Myanmar
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4SKNNH5ACHWEWTAE9NACG0GF4
- Story Text: A group of activist organisations in Myanmar demanded the setting up of an independent commission on Wednesday (October 29) to probe the killing of a journalist in army custody, saying the military had delayed reporting of his death for almost three weeks.
A committee consisting of 46 organisations said the journalist Par Gyi was killed on Oct 4.
Ko Ko Gyi, one of the members of the committee, said at a news conference that the military waited for 20 days to release the report on his death.
Par Gyi was arrested on Sept. 30 after completing a photo assignment documenting clashes between the military and the rebel Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in the east, the Myanmar-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has said.
The AAPP has disputed the statement released by the military, which said Par Gyi was shot when he tried to steal a gun from a soldier and escape after being detained because he was a member of an ethnic Karen rebel organisation.
His wife, Than Dar, has said she suspects he died while being tortured, leading the military to secretly bury his body.
Speaking at the news conference, Than Dar broke down while insisting that her husband had no affiliation with any rebel units.
"My husband was never involved in KKO (Klo Htoo Baw Karen Organization) or DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Association). He was just member of Tri-colour Student Group. And after that he just worked as a freelance journalist as he was interested in taking pictures," Than Dar said, referring to splinter ethnic armies operating in eastern Myanmar, adding that he was a freelance journalist.
Tri-colour was a student group who served as Suu Kyi's bodyguards during 1988-1990.
After 49 years of autocratic military rule, a semi-civilian government took power in Myanmar in 2011 and ushered in sweeping political and economic reforms. But rights groups say the government has been cracking down on journalists over the past year, and they accuse the military of continuing to commit abuses.
"In accordance with the wishes of Than Dar, we will submit a letter to the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission demanding an independent investigation into the murder," member of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, Ko Ko Gyi, said.
The police and the government have declined to comment on the case and so far there has been no word of any investigation into the killing.
Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has also not commented on the killing of Par Gyi, who is a former democracy activist and worked as one of her bodyguards from 1988 to 1990. Par Gyi's wife said he was in touch with the Nobel Prize laureate until just months before his death and Suu Kyi has sent a letter of condolence to the family. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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