Media group calls on army to protect journalists in Kokang

19 February 2015
Media group calls on army to protect journalists in Kokang
Volunteers of Myanmar Red Cross organisation carry wounded volunteer U Moe Kyaw, 45, as the war vrefugees fleeing from Laukkai sit on the truck after vehicles of a rescue convoy were attacked by Kokang rebels near Kokang capital Laukkai, northern Shan State, Myanmar, February 17, 2015. Two volunteers from Myanmar Red Cross Society injured in rescue convoy attack. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo/EPA

The Myanmar Journalist Network on February 18 issued a statement urging government troops, who are taking responsibility to provide security in the Kokang area, to protect media personnel who have been covering the fighting in the area.
A convoy carrying Myanmar war refugees from Laukkai, correspondents and press photographers was ambushed by an unknown armed group on February 17, and two Myanmar Red Cross volunteers were injured.
MJN’s statement also condemned the attack against civilians and media persons.
U Myint Kyaw, general secretary of the MJN, said: “[In the past], media personnel did not personally go to the areas like this to cover an issue like this. Now, they personally visited the area and covered the fighting. They don’t have enough experience, so if they want to go to some places, they should go with security personnel.” 
MJN urged the media personnel who want to go to Laukkai to plan security measures with their media organizations.
Several media personnel and photographers with EPA, Reuters, AFP, Irrawaddy, 7Day Daily and The Union Daily are in the Kokang area to cover the fighting.