Myanmar Times accused of serving junta spin

The Myanmar Times, once hailed as Burma’s first independent English-language newspaper, is again under scrutiny for its close ties to military intelligence and its role in shaping the junta’s public image.

Founded in 2000 by Australian editor Ross Dunkley, the weekly was presented as a modern, credible news outlet. Yet from the start, exiled media such as The Irrawaddy questioned its funding and links to Myanmar’s notorious intelligence units. Investigations have repeatedly suggested the paper was less a watchdog than a polished propaganda tool.

Critics point to its coverage of key events, including the 2003 attack on opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s convoy. While international outlets reported the assault was orchestrated by the regime, the Myanmar Times echoed the official line, portraying it as a clash between rival groups. Similar patterns emerged in its reporting on Prime Minister Khin Nyunt’s “road map”, which the paper lauded as a turning point despite widespread scepticism.

Behind the scenes, senior officials such as Tin Win and Brigadier-General Thein Swe vetted stories, discarding up to 15 articles a week. Their oversight ensured the paper stayed firmly within the junta’s narrative. Publisher Sonny Swe, Thein Swe’s son, further cemented the link between the newsroom and the military establishment.

Journalists in Yangon have long accused the paper of misleading readers. While its presentation was slicker than the regime’s official mouthpiece, the New Light of Myanmar, many saw it as part of the problem rather than the solution. Foreign correspondents noted that Dunkley enjoyed unusual freedoms compared with local reporters, who risked closure or arrest if they strayed from the official line.

The Myanmar Times became the regime’s foreigner-friendly showcase, allowed to report on sensitive issues but only through the lens approved by intelligence officers. For the generals, it was a convenient marriage: a credible-looking publication that reassured outsiders while reinforcing the junta’s grip at home.

Today, as Myanmar continues to battle international condemnation over rights abuses, the paper’s legacy remains controversial. For critics, it symbolises how the military has mastered the art of managing news, turning journalism into another arm of its propaganda machine.

-2026-02-16