On June 10, news outlets affiliated with the junta announced that authorities had revoked The Ayeyarwaddy Times’s media license for allegedly breaching Section 8 of Myanmar’s Printing and Publishing Law, which relates to publishing content. The reason for the license cancellation remains unclear. Despite the directive, the outlet has continued to promote “freedom, justice, and peace” through its coverage of Myanmar and has persisted publishing articles and other news through its website since the ban.
Amidst the military’s crackdown on freedom of expression and the press, journalists and media workers belonging to the Ayeyarwaddy Times have faced arrests, harassment, and violence. In August 2022, former editor Myo Min Tun was sentenced to two years in prison, before being released in January 2023. He had served over a year in custody before trial. Ayeyarwaddy journalist Aung Mya Than has faced two arrests for his work for the outlet, with his most recent detention beginning on July 10, 2021, under Section 505(a) of Myanmar’s penal code, which has been used on many occasions to detain media workers.
The junta’s withdrawal of media licenses presents a distinct threat to Burmese journalists, with those found to be working for unsanctioned outlets facing detention or further penalties. In October 2022, Thai-based media outlet The Irrawaddy had its licence revoked, the latest in a series of attacks against the outlet. A month after the military coup in February 2021, the junta also cancelled the licences of five media outlets, Khit Khit Media, Myanmar Now, Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima, and 7 Day, for their coverage of anti-junta protests. A total of fourteen media outlets have had their licenses revoked since the coup.
The MJN said: “The intention of the license cancellation will affect the covert reporter. The junta may impose harsh punishment upon the undercover reporter who works for a license-revoked media agency. MJN denounces the recent license revocation of Ayeyarwaddy Times; it will affect press freedom of Myanmar and we see this as intimidation against our journalist colleagues."
The IFJ said: “The military junta must cease its blatant intimidation and attacks against journalists for their critical reporting, with the effective criminalisation and censoring of yet another independent outlet bringing Myanmar’s press freedom to a new low. The IFJ condemns the suspension of The Ayeyarwaddy’s licence and urges the junta to allow all media workers to operate freely and without fear of retribution.”