Articles by Mizzima News
Comedian, sports columnist, other dissidents charged with violation of various media laws
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Several Burmese journalists, student leaders and an actor were charged for various offences on 15 August 2008. Popular comedian and actor Zarganar appeared before the Rangoon West District Court inside Insein Prison and was charged with seven counts of violations. His co-accused, sports columnist Zaw Thet Htwe, Thant Zin Aung and Maung Tin […]
Chief censor attempts to resign amid disagreements with information ministry, further media crackdown feared
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese junta’s Minister of Information refused to accept the resignation of the regime’s chief censor, said a government official who requested anonymity. Major Tint Swe, the director of the Office of Press Scrutiny, which censors the contents of all print media in Burma, submitted his resignation letter to the ministry on 31 […]
Renewed censoring of magazine’s poems and articles provoke publication delay, financial losses
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese Press Scrutiny Board’s delay in reviewing the articles in “Cherry Magazine” forced the Rangoon-based monthly to skip its August 2008 issue. The August issue, scheduled for publication by the end of July, was released only on 12 August, prompting the publisher to designate it as the September 2008 issue instead. The […]
Detained comedian, sports columnist both charged with “disturbing public order”
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Lawyer Aung Thein reports that sports columnist Zaw Thet Htwe and comedian Zarganar (“Tweezers”) were brought before court on 30 July 2008 and charged under section 505(b) of the Criminal Code for “disturbing public order”. Their next hearing is scheduled for 7 August. Both were arrested in June following their involvement in private […]
Two news websites run by journalists in exile under attack; junta suspected
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Two leading news organizations run by Burmese exiles have reported sustained, aggressive attacks on their online servers in late July 2008. The Burmese-language website of Mizzima News has been inaccessible since 27 July due to persistent and severe Distributed Denial of Services (DDoS) attacks. The website of Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) […]
Authorities suppress magazine story about critical editor
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese Ministry of Information has suppressed an 80-page article about prominent Burmese journalist Oway U Nyo Mya, written for “Padaukpwinthit” magazine. The story on U Nyo Mya, who was also editor of “Oway” magazine – the mouthpiece of the Students’ Union during Burma’s anti-colonial struggle – and an intimate friend of Burma’s […]
Junta officials censor political cartoons; reporters face restrictions at Martyrs’ Day ceremony
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Government officials removed four cartoons from a fund-raising exhibit earlier in the week of 21 July 2008 for allegedly violating government policies. The exhibit, entitled “Wake-up from Storm”, was for the benefit of victims of cyclone Nargis. Five officials of the Cartoon Exhibition Supervisory Committee, under the Ministry of Information, went to Lawkanat […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Military cronies’ involvement in media resulting in self-censorship, reduced media diversity
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The following is a 17 June 2008 Mizzima News report: Cronyism; unhealthy competition in media market The sustainability of most local media outlets in Burma is now apparently jeopardised not only by the censorship board’s interference but also the unscrupulous approach of military cronies, resulting in an obstruction of the growth of private […]