Irrawaddy-May 25
In what is believed to be another step to choke the already suffocated media, Myanmar’s military regime has appointed two former military officers to lead the Myanmar Press Council in addition to their oversight over the Myanmar Press Council. The press council will be chaired by former lieutenant colonel U Ohn Maung and the vice-chairman will be former lieutenant colonel U Myo Tun. Both men became the chairman and vice-chairman of the writers association in November. U Ohn Maung, a poet who goes by the pen name Myinmu Maung Naing Moe, won several national poetry awards under previous military regimes. U Myo Tun, a poet who uses the names Maung Sein Naung Lewe, worked for the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare at the Defense Ministry. Their public profile is low.
The 11-member central executive committee of the writers association is dominated by former military officers and those close to the military. Certain freedoms that journalists and writers enjoyed for nearly 10 years have ended with the February 2021 coup. In November last year, the press council was reformed under regime control. The writers association followed nearly six months later. Over the past six months, U Ohn Maung has written propaganda poems in junta newspapers. Both men are controversial recipients of national literary awards. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/ex-myanmar-military-officers-to-head-press-and-literary-bodies.html
