Update: The Kayin (Karen) State Border Guard Force (BGF) has now released Naw Betty Han, who was being interviewed by government officials as of 5.50pm. The Myanmar Times has also announced that its photojournalist Mar Naw was detained alongside Naw Betty Han and has since been released.
A Myanmar military-backed armed group has detained a Frontier Myanmar journalist in Karen state.
Reporter Naw Betty Han was on assignment in the eastern Myanmar town of Myawaddy when she lost contact with her employer yesterday afternoon.
Naw Betty Han sent her colleague a text message yesterday saying she had been detained at Border Gate 1 in Myawaddy by the Kayin (Karen) State Border Guard Force (BGF), a Tatmadaw-aligned group that has controversial business ventures in the area.
“We are concerned for her safety and are trying to establish her whereabouts. We are in contact with Betty's family, the Kayin State government and the Myanmar Press Council,” wrote Frontier in a Facebook post.
The outlet has since announced that it received information of Naw Betty Han's location and that she would be “released soon.”
“Thanks for all your expressions/offers of support, we'll continue to provide updates as we get more information,” said the post.
Meanwhile, Myanmar Times has been unable to reach its photojournalist Mar Naw, who was visiting the town in a personal capacity, said his employer.
Naw Betty Han has reported on the shady business interests of the 6,000-troop strong BGF—most recently on its “new city” project done largely with Chinese financing and workforce.
The BGF is being accused of trying to illegally build a road using landfill near the project, local media reported today.
