by Nava Thakuria
Guwahati: The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), a Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, has expressed concern over the continuing press censorship in Myanmar after the military junta recently revoked the licences of three more independent news outlets. The junta’s Information Ministry recently restricted the publication of Myaelatt Athan, Red News Agency, and Asia Citizens News Agency, citing various legal provisions.
Notably, the South Asian nation of 55 million people witnessed a military coup on February 1, 2021, when the democratically elected government of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted by then military chief Min Aung Hlaing. Since then, the junta has revoked the licences of nearly 20 independent media outlets, including Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now, and 7Day News.
“The Myanmar media fraternity continues to face atrocities under the military regime in Naypyitaw. No fewer than 200 working journalists have been arrested over the last five years. According to the Independent Press Council of Myanmar, 18 of them are still behind bars. We demand their immediate release and the withdrawal of restrictions imposed on various media outlets,” said Blaise Lempen, President of PEC (pressemblem.ch).
