THE BBC is “extremely concerned” after one of its journalists was abducted by armed thugs while reporting in Myanmar.
The broadcaster said Aung Thura was “taken away” by unidentified men in the capital Naypyidaw this morning.
He had been reporting on the military coup in the country when he was taken at approximately midday local time.
“We are extremely concerned about our BBC News Burmese Reporter, Aung Thura, who was taken away by unidentified men”, the BBC’s press team said on Twitter.
Dozens of journalists have been detained by the military in Myanmar over their reporting of the coup.
It has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on Feb. 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide.
The coup, which brought a halt to tentative steps towards democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets and the condemnation of Western countries.
While some Western countries have imposed limited sanctions, the generals have traditionally shrugged off diplomatic pressure.
They have promised to hold a new election but not set a date.
Suu Kyi’s party and supporters said the result of the November vote must be respected.
Suu Kyi, 75, who spent nearly 15 years under house arrest, faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols.
More to follow…
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