{"id":7794,"date":"2025-09-25T04:04:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/?p=7794"},"modified":"2025-09-25T04:04:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T21:34:30","slug":"ula-aa-detains-a-female-journalist-in-maungdaw-rakhine-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moemaka.net\/eng\/2025\/09\/ula-aa-detains-a-female-journalist-in-maungdaw-rakhine-state\/","title":{"rendered":"ULA\/AA detains a female journalist in Maungdaw, Rakhine State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 View from September 23<\/h1>\n

(MoeMaKa, September 24, 2025)<\/p>\n

ULA\/AA detains a female journalist in Maungdaw, Rakhine State<\/h2>\n

The United League of Arakan\/Arakan Army (ULA\/AA), which controls parts of Rakhine State, detained female journalist Ma Mudra<\/strong> in Maungdaw<\/strong>. ULA\/AA intelligence personnel took her from her home on September 20<\/strong>; as of September 23<\/strong> she had not been released<\/strong>, according to the editor-in-chief of Border News Agency<\/strong>, where she works.<\/p>\n

This marks the second known case<\/strong> of a resistance armed group detaining journalists from independent media not under any party or government<\/strong>. The first was in September last year<\/strong>, when the KIA<\/strong> in Hpakant<\/strong> held two reporters\u2014one freelance and one from Red News Agency<\/strong>\u2014for about a month.<\/p>\n

By contrast, the coup regime<\/strong> has repeatedly raided newsrooms, arrested journalists, and beaten or tortured them\u2014some to death<\/strong>\u2014over the past four to five years; around three dozen journalists<\/strong> remain imprisoned. While such repression by a military dictatorship is sadly unsurprising, it is shocking<\/strong> to see resistance forces<\/strong> begin detaining reporters or accusing them of being informants<\/strong>, even when those outlets have generally covered the Spring Revolution sympathetically<\/strong> and sometimes overstepped<\/strong> standard media ethics in its favor.<\/p>\n

As resistance groups expand territorial control<\/strong>, collect resource and customs revenues<\/strong>, and take on more administration<\/strong>, their accountability<\/strong> burdens grow\u2014and with that, scrutiny of the media has increased, leading to detentions and interrogations<\/strong>. Earlier this year, an article on oil-well levy revenues<\/strong> in the Dry Zone drew heavy criticism. Some argued the media shouldn\u2019t criticize the NUG<\/strong>, or claimed such reporting might provoke junta airstrikes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Similar revenue growth from gold mines, minerals, and timber<\/strong> is occurring elsewhere. During the earlier phase\u2014when there was little governance\u2014there was no media monitoring<\/strong>; but as governance and resource management<\/strong> by armed groups has expanded, critical reporting<\/strong> has become unwelcome<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In the current Maungdaw case, some major outlets repeated the detaining group\u2019s vague justification<\/strong> as a headline\u2014\u201cviolating the rules of war<\/strong>\u201d\u2014without specific evidence<\/strong>. Another large outlet avoided the word \u201carrest,\u201d<\/strong> saying she was \u201cquestioned,\u201d<\/strong> which is also noteworthy.<\/p>\n

In struggles to end military dictatorship\u2014whether by arms or other means\u2014press freedom<\/strong> plays a vital role. Respecting<\/strong> that freedom is essential if those who govern are to be accountable to the public<\/strong>. Historically, authorities engage warmly with the press when coverage aligns with their interests<\/strong>; but once they gain power to govern<\/strong>, many grow intolerant<\/strong> of reporting that demands accountability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Myanmar Spring Chronicle \u2013 View from September 23 (MoeMaKa, September 24, 2025) ULA\/AA detains a female journalist in Maungdaw, Rakhine State The United League of Arakan\/Arakan Army (ULA\/AA), which controls parts of Rakhine State, detained female journalist Ma Mudra in…<\/p>\n

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