Press Statement   7 June 2021 

Detained DVB team in Chiang Mai safe in third country 

DVB’s ‘Chiang Mai 5’ have left Thailand and are now in a safe ‘third’ country. DVB 

can’t elaborate more about which nation welcomed them, as the entire case 

remains very sensitive. More details will be shared whenever their safety allows it.

The group of journalists from the Democratic Voice of Burma was arrested in 

Chiang Mai in Thailand on May 9 for crossing the border. The Chiang Mai court 

sentenced them for 7 months imprisonment on May 28 for illegally entering 

Thailand, but suspended that sentence with a year. 

Given the way that DVB and other media organizations are being persecuted by 

the military junta, they can’t be deported back to Burma. The ‘Chiang Mai 5’ were 

given asylum in a third country and left Thailand recently.

DVB’s executive director and chief editor Aye Chan Naing is thankful and thrilled: 

“We like to thank everyone in Thailand and around the world that helped to make 

their safe passage possible and for campaigning for a positive outcome”. 

Currently the ‘Chiang Mai 5’ are recovering from their ordeal, but they will resume 

their work for DVB in the near future.

Aye Chan Naing

Executive director and chief editor DVB

mail: [email protected]