Foreign journalists detained in Myanmar over drone use

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar

Police said on Saturday that Singaporean and Malaysian journalists were detained for flying a drone over a parliamentary building in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw.

The journalists - Lau Hon Meng from Singapore and Mok Choy Lin from Malaysia – both working for Turkey’s state broadcaster, TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation), were detained along with their fixer and driver shortly after they flew a drone near the parliament compound on Friday, according to police.

“They were now facing charges under the Import and Export law for possessing a drone that imported to the country without permission,” said Sann Aung, a police officer at Zebu Thiri township’s police station.

“Based the ongoing investigation, they will probably face further charges,” he told Anadolu Agency by phone.

About 20 police raided the house of the fixer, Aung Soe, in Yangon on Friday evening, seizing his computer and memory sticks.

Police said they will hold a press conference on the case later today.