Myanmar citizens are taken somewhere by armed plainclothes military personnel shortly after the CNN interview team leaves. Photo = Myanmar Now Capture
[아시아경제 황수미 기자] There is controversy that the Myanmar military is known to have detained citizens who interviewed the CNN broadcasting team of the United States.
On the 3rd (local time), the local media Myanmar Now reported that at least six of those interviewed with the CNN report team were detained in military facilities.
According to reports, CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward and the party visited the Mayor of Yangon Mingaladon and Ten Mile on the previous day (2nd) to interview citizens. Immediately after they left the scene, men in armed plain clothes reportedly took five and two men, respectively, to somewhere.
Of these, at least three were interviewed with CNN, and two were believed to have taken photos of the report team. Others were also with the citizens they interviewed, the media added.
According to family and relatives, at least one of them has been released, but at least six are known to be detained at a military interrogation center in the northeastern Shepita.
A woman interviewing CNN’s report team while salute the’three fingers’ symbol of resistance in the Yangon market in Myanmar. Photo = Capture of Myanmar Now website
A photo of a woman salutes the’three fingers’ symbol of resistance during an interview with the CNN report team was also uploaded.
The three-finger salute was borrowed from the movie “The Hunger Games,” and was used as a symbol of resistance in anti-government protests in Thailand. Currently, even in Myanmar, it is spreading widely among the people after the coup.
Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, said via Twitter that “CNN is also responsible for demanding immediate and unconditional release of the citizens interviewed.”
In response, a CNN spokesman said he was aware of the incident and said, “We are pressing the military authorities for the safe release of those detained,” Reuters said.
Earlier, the CNN interview team entered Myanmar on the 31st of last month. “I arranged a visit to the CNN coverage team, and they are free to report what they want,” said Ari Benmenash, an Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by the Myanmar military.
However, three or more military and police vehicles were witnessed throughout the white vehicle carrying the CNN coverage team.
Citizens who saw this said, “The military is trying to deceive the CNN report team to conceal and package the truth of their crimes against humanity.”
Intern reporter Hwang Su-mi [email protected]