Turkish TV filmmakers to appear in Myanmar court again

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA

Documentary makers working for Turkey's state television channel will make their second appearance in a Myanmar court on Thursday.

Two journalists for TRT World were arrested for possessing an aerial drone on Oct. 27 and jailed on Nov. 10.

The team, which includes Malaysian Mok Choy Lin, Singaporean Lau Hon Meng, local freelance translator Aung Naing Soe and driver Hla Tin, were arrested by Myanmar officials due to "defiance of imports and exports, and aviation act".

"Our corporation, by all means provided necessary judicial support...," said the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in a statement released on Wednesday.

The TRT statement further asserted its commitment to "continue fulfilling its duties for humanity" and share the "realities" that the world has kept silence on.

In a statement released four days after the arrests, TRT World, the English language service of Turkey’s public broadcaster, said Myanmar's Information Ministry had been previously informed about the crew’s filming plans.

The two TRT staff arrived in Yangon on Oct. 21 on journalist visas, TRT added, and used the drone at various locations before their arrest.