Release Hidme Markam
On the one-year anniversary of the arrest of Adivasi human rights and environmental activist Hidme Markam, a coalition of international and India-based organisations held a press conference highlighting continuing attacks against Adivasi lives, land, and way of life. Speakers called on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to drop all charges against Markam and other wrongfully incarcerated Adivasis, and release them immediately.

Hidme Markam, a 29-year-old Adivasi activist from Chhattisgarh, was arrested at an International Women’s Day event in March 2021 under the draconian UAPA law, which has been used to arrest countless other human rights activists in India. For years, Markam has led efforts to free incarcerated Adivasi youth held in pre-trial detention, and to stop mining projects at the Nandraj Pahad hill, a sacred site for her Koya Adivasi community.
India Civil Watch International

Burmese Journalists Imprisoned
Press Emblem Campaign (https://pressemblem.ch/pec-news.shtml), denounces the continued crackdown on the media by the military junta of Myanmar (also known as Burma and Brahmadesh) and demands the unconditional release of all Scribes, who were sent to jails after the infamous military coup on 1 February 2021.

Local media outlets in Yangon (Rangoon), the former capital city of Myanmar, reported that three journalists were imprisoned in the third Week of March 2022 for covering the anti-junta demonstrations across the south-east Asian nation. The number of arrested (or detained) media workers in Myanmar has lately increased up to 125, while around 50 are still behind the bars.

All the three Burmese journalists namely Than Htike Aung (Mizzima), Han Thar Nyein (Kamayut) and Ye Yint Tun (Myanmar Herald) were imprisoned to two years each for allegedly preparing false news. Aung, who is associated with the Mizzima group, was arrested on 19 March 2021. Similarly, Nyein, who co-founded Kamayut news outlet, was arrested on 9 March. Tun from the Myanmar Herald digital platform was arrested on 28 February last year.

“The military regime in Naypietaw has treated the journalists as its enemy, while the media workers are doing their job only. The Burmese Generals must respect the scribes and facilitate them to perform duties without fear and trepidation,” said Blaise Lempen, the president of PEC, adding that the international community should also pay attention to the hardship faced by journalists in Myanmar.
PEC, Geneva

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Frontier
Vol 54, No. 42, April 17 - 23, 2022