• Burmese
Saturday, June 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
26 °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

Yangon Gov’t Demands Apology from Eleven Media

Kyaw Phyo Tha by Kyaw Phyo Tha
October 22, 2018
in Burma
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Eleven Media Group chief reporter Phyo Wai (pictured) and his colleagues leave Tamwe Township Court last week. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

Eleven Media Group chief reporter Phyo Wai (pictured) and his colleagues leave Tamwe Township Court last week. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

6.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

YANGON—The Yangon regional government has demanded that Eleven Media Group publish an apology in state-run newspapers for an “incorrect” story about the city’s budget that prompted authorities to file a lawsuit. The move fails to fully comply with instructions issued by the President’s Office last week that the city government should submit the dispute to the Press Council for mediation.

The Yangon government filed a suit against two editors and a reporter from Eleven Media Group earlier this month accusing them of incitement under Article 505 (b) of the Penal Code for allegedly publishing false information relating to the use of public funds. The three were arrested on Oct. 10 and detained at Yangon’s Insein Prison.

City authorities’ harsh treatment of the media organization attracted public criticism, as the story was primarily based on lawmakers’ discussion in the regional parliament of the auditor general’s report on the government budget. The lawmakers themselves insisted the story was accurate.

RelatedPosts

Like Father

Like Father, Ex-General’s Son Blasts Myanmar Democracy Movement, Independent Media

September 12, 2022
6.3k
Ex-Myanmar Military Officers to Head Press and Literary Bodies

Ex-Myanmar Military Officers to Head Press and Literary Bodies

May 25, 2022
5.9k
Journalists in Yangon participate in anti-coup demonstrations against military rule. / Lynn Hset Aung

Myanmar Junta Leader Warns Media Against Using ‘Junta’ or ‘Regime’

February 23, 2021
8.6k

Responding to the public outcry, President U Win Myint last week ordered the Yangon government to follow the Media Law, which says the Myanmar Press Council should attempt to settle complaints against the press before they reach the courts. Following the order, the Yangon government submitted a complaint letter to the Press Council last week.

The Council on Friday urged the Yangon government to withdraw its lawsuit against the three journalists so that it could begin mediation. The council cannot legally intervene in cases that have already been brought before the court.

But on the evening of the same day, rather than drop the case, the city government asked the Press Council to require that Eleven Media publish an apology in government newspapers.

“Prior to publication, the contents of the apology must be approved by the Yangon government,” the city government demanded in a letter signed by U Aung Kyaw Khiang, the director of the Yangon Government Office.

It was not immediately clear whether the Yangon government would agree to withdraw the case if the apology was forthcoming. U Aung Kyaw Khaing wasn’t available for comment on Monday.

Press Council member U Myint Kyaw told The Irrawaddy on Monday that the council cannot begin any mediation—even at the government’s request—until the court case is dropped.

“I think they are playing an unfair game. Trying to settle the case while keeping the journalists behind bars is sort of taking the upper hand,” he said.

At noon on Monday, Eleven Media managing director U Thein Myint told The Irrawaddy he had yet to hear anything more about either the withdrawal of the case or the demand for an apology.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with the Press Council on Friday, he said the journalists would have the final say in the apology.

“It’s up to them whether to apologize or not,” he said.

Lawmaker U Nay Phone Latt said the government’s demand contradicted the president’s order to attempt to settle the case with the help of the Press Council.

“To do so, the case has to be dropped first. Now they are demanding an apology rather than withdrawing the case. It’s not in line with the presidential directive,” he said.

The lawsuit is not the first that the Yangon government has filed against Eleven Media.

In 2016, the company’s CEO U Than Htut Aung and editor-in-Chief U Wai Phyo were sued for libel by Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein over an editorial accusing him of corruption. Eleven Media Group later issued an official apology and retracted the editorial that prompted the libel case.

The apology was printed in state-run newspapers in both Burmese and English.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Eleven MedialibelMyanmar Press CouncilYangon regional government
Kyaw Phyo Tha

Kyaw Phyo Tha

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Like Father
Burma

Like Father, Ex-General’s Son Blasts Myanmar Democracy Movement, Independent Media

by The Irrawaddy
September 12, 2022
6.3k

Invited to a Dili forum, Aye Chan, a member of the junta’s press council and son of coup supporter ex-Admiral...

Read moreDetails
The website of Mandalay In-Depth News. / The Irrawaddy
Burma

Myanmar Journalists Furious as Govt Blocks Over 200 Websites Including News Pages

by Htun Htun
April 1, 2020
8.3k

News agencies are objecting after the Myanmar government ordered telecom operators to
block over 200 websites.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Labor Attaché U San Maung Oo talks to Myanmar workers in Thailand. / Myanmar Labor Attache Office - Thailand / Facebook
Burma

Former Labor Attaché on Trial for Corruption Attacks Irrawaddy Photographer

by Zaw Zaw Htwe
February 6, 2020
5.3k

Ex-Myanmar labor attaché U San Maung Oo attacked a photographer from The Irrawaddy after a court hearing on Wednesday in...

Read moreDetails
Naw Betty Han from Frontier Myanmar and Mar Naw from Myanmar Times were detained by the Border Guard Force in Karen State and released late Thursday evening. / Myanmar Free Press
Burma

Detained Myanmar Journalists Physically Abused by Karen Border Guard Force

by Zarni Mann
March 6, 2020
9.3k

Two journalists detained by a Myanmar military-backed Border Guard Force in Karen State say the armed group beat and threatened...

Read moreDetails
Ex-Myanmar Military Officers to Head Press and Literary Bodies
Burma

Ex-Myanmar Military Officers to Head Press and Literary Bodies

by The Irrawaddy
May 25, 2022
5.9k

The junta has appointed two ex-military “poets” to lead the Myanmar Press Council.

Read moreDetails
Downtown Yangon / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy  
Burma

Auditor’s Report Shows Financial Problems of Yangon Government

by Kyaw Phyo Tha
January 9, 2020
6.8k

Yangon auditor-general’s report on the regional government’s FY2017-18 spending reveals lost revenue, failure to collect fines and tax evasion, among...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
School buses purchased by the Yangon government are parked in a compound near government offices on Jan. 10. A recent audit report says the government borrowed money to buy the buses without seeking approval from Parliament. / The Irrawaddy

Anti-Corruption Commission Rejects Request to Probe Yangon Govt Losses

Kavi Chongkittavorn. / The Irrawaddy

‘I Don’t Think the West Understands Myanmar’ 

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

Will Myanmar’s Military Replace Its Embattled Leader?

1 week ago
2.5k
How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

How the Myanmar Military’s Propaganda Efforts Have Evolved Over the Decades

2 days ago
933

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    Myanmar Junta Advances into Karenni State

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Civilians in Need as Arakan Army Advances on Kyaukphyu

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Untested Commander Takes Charge as Myanmar Military Faces Toughest Challenge in Decades

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China Defends Myanmar Junta on Human Rights at UN

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Jade Hub Burns as Junta Counteroffensive Penetrates Hpakant

    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.