• Burmese
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
30 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Court Fines Weekly Journal Over Satirical Article

The Irrawaddy by The Irrawaddy
February 18, 2019
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
An illustration accompanying the satirical article "Electioneering Smile" published by the Tanintharyi Journal on Nov. 20, 2017.

An illustration accompanying the satirical article "Electioneering Smile" published by the Tanintharyi Journal on Nov. 20, 2017.

7.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON — A court in Tanintharyi Region on Monday fined a local weekly 500,000 kyats ($327) for a satirical article it published more than a year ago that offended the region’s chief minister.

“It is not a fair decision,” Tanintharyi Journal editor-in-chief U Myo Aung said of the Dawei Township Court’s decision, especially, he added, given the government’s efforts to establish a liberal democracy that respects the freedom of expression.

The journal was sued by the deputy director of the regional government office over a Nov. 20, 2017, article that referred to an unnamed female incumbent planning to contest a coming election for ward and village administrators. The complaint said the article was targeting the regional chief minister, Daw Lei Lei Maw, and damaged the government’s reputation.

RelatedPosts

Russia Reaffirms Interest in Troubled Port Project in Southern Myanmar

Russia Reaffirms Interest in Troubled Port Project in Southern Myanmar

January 23, 2025
1.6k
Myanmar Military Steps Up Conscription of Would-Be Migrant Workers

Myanmar Military Steps Up Conscription of Would-Be Migrant Workers

October 17, 2024
3.3k
Junta Launches Fierce Offensive to Retake Only Highway in Southern Myanmar

Junta Launches Fierce Offensive to Retake Only Highway in Southern Myanmar

June 14, 2024
10.7k

In December 2017, the journal was charged under Article 25 (b) of the Media Law — which carries a maximum fine of 1 million kyats for news that “deliberately affects” the reputation of s specific person or organization.”

U Myo Aung, who has appeared before the court 36 times in the case, said he would consult with a lawyer before deciding whether to appeal.

U Myint Kyaw, a member of the Myanmar Press Council, said the court decision was unjust.

“It is like enforcing censorship of the media — to not write anything critical about the authorities, including the chief ministers,” he said.

U Myint Kyaw noted that the article only raised the same complaints about local authorities that residents themselves voiced when State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited Tanintharyi Region last week.

Some residents had earlier handed the government a formal complaint accusing the chief minister — along with her brother-in-law U Aung Soe, a regional Lower House lawmakers, and regional Planning and Finance Minister U Phyo Min Tun — of awarding public contracts and a government job to relatives.

“The public’s complaints and the public feeling toward her are more harsh than this satirical piece, so in reality the journal should not be found guilty, ” U Myint Kyaw said.

The Irrawaddy’s ZUE ZUE contributes to this report. 

Your Thoughts …
Tags: articlechief ministercourtfinedjournalTanintharyi
The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy

...

Similar Picks:

Junta Launches Fierce Offensive to Retake Only Highway in Southern Myanmar
Burma

Junta Launches Fierce Offensive to Retake Only Highway in Southern Myanmar

by Saw Lwin
June 14, 2024
10.7k

A key section of the highway linking Tanintharyi Region to the rest of Myanmar was captured by resistance groups in...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Military Steps Up Conscription of Would-Be Migrant Workers
Burma

Myanmar Military Steps Up Conscription of Would-Be Migrant Workers

by Hein Htoo Zan
October 17, 2024
3.3k

Scores of young people were arrested as they tried to cross illegally into Thailand earlier this week and are being...

Read moreDetails
Russia Reaffirms Interest in Troubled Port Project in Southern Myanmar
Burma

Russia Reaffirms Interest in Troubled Port Project in Southern Myanmar

by The Irrawaddy
January 23, 2025
1.6k

Russia’s ambassador traveled to Dawei, Tanintharyi Region to discuss a stalled port and Special Economic Zone project, and also inquired...

Read moreDetails
US Court Convicts Myanmar Man of Plotting to Injure or Kill Country’s Ambassador to UN
Myanmar’s Crisis & the World

US Court Convicts Myanmar Man of Plotting to Injure or Kill Country’s Ambassador to UN

by The Irrawaddy
July 25, 2023
1.1k

The court said Phyo Hein Htut and compatriot Ye Hein Zaw planned to hire people to force anti-junta Ambassador U...

Read moreDetails
Detained and/or charged NLD government officials include: (top row, left to right) State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; President U Win Myint; Planning and Finance Minister U Soe Win; and NUG Humanitarian Affairs Minister U Win Myat Aye; and (bottom row, left to right) detained Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Minister U Thaung Tun; ex-Planning and Finance Minister U Kyaw Win; Deputy Planning and Finance Minister U Set Aung; and Religion and Culture Minister U Aung Ko.
Burma

Over 50 Top Officials From Myanmar’s Ousted NLD Govt Face Long Jail Terms

by The Irrawaddy
November 30, 2021
6.6k

Courts are preparing to hand down penalties in the corruption, incitement and other cases the junta has brought against scores...

Read moreDetails
The group of young people are led away after their arrest at Star City in Yangon on May 9.
Burma

Myanmar Junta Charges 13 Arrested at Yangon’s Star City With Incitement

by The Irrawaddy
June 10, 2021
10.1k

Residents say military collaborators living in the residential complex informed on the group; a doctor was killed during the May...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Karenni rights activists and members of a committee tasked with putting up a statue of Gen. Aung San meet in Loikaw on Feb. 17, 2019. / Progressive Karenni People’s Force / Facebook

Karenni Activists Threaten to Destroy Aung San Statue as Talks Collapse

USDP and military-appointed lawmakers attend Parliament in Naypyitaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

Military, USDP, ANP Withhold Nominees For Constitution Amendment Committee

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

2 days ago
1.4k
Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

Is TNLA, Under Chinese Pressure, Conceding Northern Shan Gateway to the Regime?

5 days ago
1.3k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    Myanmar Junta Attacks to Reclaim KIA’s Jade and Rare Earth Strongholds

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China’s Bet on Myanmar Junta Risks Backfiring

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Updated Timeline: Key Events in the Life of Myanmar’s Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China is Systematically Dismantling Tibetan Monastic Traditions

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Israel-Iran Conflict: Latest Developments

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.