PEC voices concern over press censorship in Myanmar

Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, has expressed concern over the continued press censorship in Myanmar, as the military junta authorities have recently revoked the licenses of three more independent news outlets. The junta’s information ministry had lately restricted the publication of Myaelatt Athan, Red News Agency, and Asia Citizens News Agency, citing different sections of the law.

Mentionable is that the South Asian nation of 55 million people witnessed a coup on 1 February 2021, when a democratically elected government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted by the then military chief Min Aung Hlaing. Since then, the junta has revoked the licenses of nearly 20 independent media outlets, comprising Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now, 7Day News, etc.

“Myanmar’s media fraternity continues to face atrocities from the military regime in Naypyitaw. No less than 200 working journalists were arrested in the last five years. According to the Independent Press Council of Myanmar, 18 among them are still behind bars. We demand their immediate release and also the withdrawal of restrictions imposed on various media outlets,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (pressemblem.ch).