Sai Zaw Thaike

Sai Zaw Thaike (စိုင်းဇော်သိုက်) is a Burmese independent photojournalist associated with the independent news agency Myanmar Now.

In September 2023, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor by a military tribunal, marking the longest prison sentence handed down to a journalist since the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. On 1 June 2026, he was awarded the prestigious Courage Prize by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) for his brave reporting under military suppression.

Early career

Sai Zaw Thaike is a journalist who began working as a photojournalist for Myanmar Now in 2017, leading field coverage for investigative reports. Prior to his tenure at Myanmar Now, he worked for various local media outlets, including SkyNet, The Messenger Journal, The Irrawaddy, and 7Day News. The targeted mistreatment was believed to be a direct retaliation after he and two other political prisoners informed visiting representatives of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission about the staff's human rights violations against inmates. Furthermore, authorities reportedly punished him for allegedly leaking prison intelligence to external media outlets.

International recognition

On 1 June 2026, during the 34th RSF Press Freedom Awards held at the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, France, He was awarded the RSF "Courage Prize". The award, integrated within the 77th World News Media Congress, recognized his bravery in documenting ground realities in Myanmar at extreme personal risk. International press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have repeatedly called for his immediate and unconditional release.