CPJ demands release of Myanmar journo

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded release of Nanda, a broadcast journalist who has been "held without charges" in Myanmar.

Nanda, a broadcast journalist with the local privately-owned Channel Mandalay TV news station, was held from a protest coverage on May 15.

Police accused him of being involved in the protest and have detained him without charge at Mandalay's Oboe prison, CPJ said in a statement released today.

"We call on Myanmar authorities to release Nanda, who was merely doing his job as a journalist by covering a protest," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative.

"If Myanmar ever wants to be taken seriously as a democracy, this type of chronic harassment of the press must cease and desist," added Crispin.

Nanda faces potential charges under Articles 114, 333, and 435 of Myanmar's penal code, which deal respectively with abetting a criminal offense, assaulting military officials, and mischief caused by fire or an explosive substance, according to CPJ.