Myanmar junta revokes licenses for Khonumthung, Chin World, and Myatmaukkhit news agencies

Mizzima

The quasi-civilian military administration in Myanmar announced the revocation of publication licenses for three news agencies, including two primary outlets reporting on Chin State.

The ban, effective from 9 April, was officially announced on 24 April against the Khonumthung Media Group led by J. Mein Htan Sang Nga, Chin World led by Salai Yan Lin Mann, and the Myatmaukkhit News Agency led by Min Htet Aung.

The quasi-civilian military administration stated that the ban was imposed because the outlets published and broadcasted content detrimental to national security, the rule of law, and public peace, failing to comply with the regulations under Section 8(b) of the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Law.

“The coup military continues to arrest, imprison, and revoke the licenses of individuals, organizations, and news agencies they perceive as obstacles or opponents, using these same allegations. Many major news agencies have been shut down before, and this is just a continuation of that pattern,” Salai Robert, editor of Khonumthung Media, told Mizzima.

It is reported that the license for Khonumthung Media, obtained during the National League for Democracy (NLD) government prior to the military coup, was set to expire in 2025, and a notice for renewal had recently been received.

However, he noted that the revocation likely occurred because they chose not to renew the license under a quasi-civilian military administration that views independent media as enemies.

Salai Robert further stated that they will continue to stand on the side of truth and the public, striving to deliver accurate news to the community in accordance with media ethics.

The ban notice includes a prohibition against the news agencies publishing or broadcasting through any type of media or technology.

Following the military coup, on 8 March 2021, the publication licenses of several domestic news outlets, including 7Day, television channels Mizzima and DVB, and online media platforms Myanmar Now and Khit Thit, were also revoked.