Myanmar, Reuters, Nov. 4, 2016 – Human rights monitors have raised concerns about press freedom in Myanmar after a journalist at an English-language newspaper said she was fired following government criticism of her reporting of allegations of rape by soldiers.
Violence in the north of troubled Rakhine State, which began with deadly attacks on border police posts on Oct. 9, has sparked the biggest crisis of de facto Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s seven months in power.
Troops poured into the region after the attacks, which the government says were carried out by minority Rohingya Muslims with links to militant Islamists overseas.
The military operation has sharpened the tension between Suu Kyi’s civilian administration and the army, which ruled the country for decades and retains key powers, including control of ministries responsible for security.

Rakhine Chief Minister Nyi Pu (L) and Myanmar’s high ranking military officers walk after a day trip with a diplomatic mission and United Nations officials to the Maungdaw areas in northern Rakhine State in Myanmar November 3, 2016

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said reporters trying to cover the unrest in Rakhine faced obstruction and harassment.
Authorities have not allowed foreign journalists to visit the area and the international media was not invited to travel with senior diplomats who visited this week, even as state media obtained full access.