Articles by Mizzima News
Authorities restrict satellite dish sales to limit information flow on cyclone damage
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Shops selling satellite dish antennas are being raided and searched by local authorities in Rangoon. The shop owners are being made to sign a pledge not to sell satellite equipment to unlicensed customers and equipment has been confiscated from some shops. On 6 June 2008, local officials raided and searched Toshiba Kyaw Win’s […]
Celebrated comedian-actor arrested after criticising government response to cyclone crisis
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The prominent Burmese comedian, actor and director Zarganar, who has been playing an active role helping cyclone survivors, was arrested and taken from his residence by authorities on the evening of 4 June 2008, according to members of his family. Observers believe that the arrest is in reprisal for the celebrity’s outspoken nature […]
Junta extends Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention; youths pressing for her freedom arrested, their whereabouts unknown
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Defying demands of the international community and its own people to free pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, on 27 May 2008 Burma’s military rulers extended her house arrest, a government source said. The extension was reportedly read out to the detained Burmese opposition leader on the afternoon of 27 May by […]
Censorship board prohibits coverage of damage, hunger; local journalists prevented from covering devastated village
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Private weeklies in Burma have been ordered by the Press Scrutiny and Registration Board not to run any story that depicts the destruction caused by the cyclone that pummelled the Rangoon and Irrawaddy deltas; rather, they have been told to cover only the reconstruction efforts by authorities, according to local journalists. Mizzima’s sources […]
Local journalists free to travel but face other restrictions on cyclone coverage
(Mizzima/IFEX) – While journalists covering the impact of the deadly Cyclone Nargis, which hit Burma on 3 May 2008, face restrictions placed by the authorities, local reporters have more freedom to move around the country than their foreign counterparts. Though free to travel to the disaster sites, local journalists were not allowed to publish detailed […]
Foreign journalists likely to be barred from covering referendum, says information ministry source
(Mizzima/IFEX) – Burma’s military junta’s Ministry of Information has reportedly leaked that foreign journalists will not be permitted to cover the upcoming 10 May 2008 constitutional referendum. A Rangoon-based journalist, citing an official from the Ministry of Information, said foreign journalists and media groups will possibly be prevented from reporting on the referendum’s proceedings. “The […]
Junta reportedly planning to restrict Internet access during referendum
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The Burmese military junta is planning to block the flow of information from the country to the outside world by restricting Internet access during the referendum on 10 May 2008, according to a government source. An official from the Myanmar Communication Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Mizzima News that the government […]
Censors ban veteran journalist’s writings for one week
UPDATE: A respected journalist, Ludu Sein Win, dies (Mizzima News, 19 June 2012) (Mizzima News/IFEX) – Burma’s censorship board has reportedly rescinded a short-lived “ban” on the writings of veteran journalist Ludu Sein Win, according to sources in the Burmese literary community. Sources in the Burmese literary community said Ludu Sein Win told them that […]