Myanmar authorities should immediately cease harassing and threatening to arrest Aung Marm Oo, editor-in-chief of the privately owned Rakhine state-based news agency Development Media Group, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement.

Aung Marm Oo went into hiding after authorities filed a complaint on May 1 seeking his arrest for unspecified violations of the Unlawful Association Act, which can result in up to five years' imprisonment and fines.

On May 8, Aung Marm Oo sent a letter to the Myanmar Press Council, an independent body tasked with resolving media disputes, requesting mediation on the case, as permitted under the country's Media Act to prevent lawsuits against journalists, he said; as of today, the council had not replied.