October 14: Exiled Burmese journalists in Bangladesh are concerned for their personal security after the United Nation Human Rights Commission advised one journalist that the exiled media should cease their involvement in media related work.

Myat Kyaw, the editor-in-chief of Dakha based Narainjar News, was advised by a UNHCR official in Bangladesh to cease the organisation’s activities or face action from Bangladeshi authorities.

“An official told me a week ago that anytime I could face strong action from Bangladesh authorities if our media work continues,” Myat Kyaw told Mizzima.

The warning followed a visit to Bangladesh last month by Burma’s third most powerful leader Gen. Thura Shwe Mann.

High-level discussions between the two countries in recent years have seemed to focus on the activities of exiled Burmese in Bangladesh fuelling speculations the country would yield to pressure from Rangoon to intervene.

Another exiled Burmese media group, Kaladan News was also advised to keep a low-profile.
A series of bomb blasts occurred in Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka on August 17, killing four people and wounding at least 115. More than 400 people, mostly members of the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, the outlaw Islamic militant group, were arrested over the incident.
Some Burmese think Bangladesh is increasingly trying to monitor the activities of foreigners in the country, who they suspect were involved in the terrorist acts, in an attempt to beef up security.

Meanwhile, the Burmese military junta has increased its rhetoric regarding exiled journalists calling them “destructive elements in disguise”.

An article in Burmese state propaganda paper The New Light of Myanmar today attacked Washington-based Radio Free Asia’s Burmese service stringer Ko Jay accusing him of ’slandering’ the nation.

According to a report by BBC’s Burmese service, two Burmese writers were also arrested in Rangoon recently for attending an environmental meeting held by an NGO in Bangkok, Thailand.

Writer Khin Mya Zin and photographer Kyawt Maung Maung Nyunt were reportedly interrogated for two days and forced to sign at a document agreeing they would not discuss their detention.