Myanmar shuts down two journals

IF THE WINDS OF CHANGE have started blowing over Myanmar, it appears that they aren’t blowing hard enough yet.

The country’s Press Scrutiny and Registration Division has ordered the indefinite suspension of two weekly journals beginning this week.

According to Mizzima, a news organization run by Burmese journalists who until recently were in exile, The Voice Weekly and Envoy may have been suspended for publishing speculation about cabinet reshuffles.

No specific reason was given by the government agency for the suspensions, although Mizzima quoted Voice editor Kyaw Min Swe as saying: “I think the main reason for the action might be the latest two front page stories. One of them was about the cabinet reshuffle and the other was news about a cartoon exhibition with photos of censored cartoons and censor board members inspecting the exhibition.”

Myanmar’s authoritarian regime had only recently loosened up restrictions on media, allowing foreign, local, and even exiled journalists more freedom to cover events in the country. In the recently concluded parliamentary elections, opposition leader Aung Saan Suu Kyi was also allowed to occupy the seat she won.

Read the full story on the Mizzima website here.