Myanmar suspends nine news journals for Suu Kyi coverage

[News_Editor]

Myanmar suspends nine news journals for Suu Kyi coverage

2010-11-23 06:58:17 GMT+7 (ICT)

YANGON, MYANMAR (BNO NEWS) -- Nine weekly news journals on Monday were suspended by Myanmar authorities after giving prominent coverage to the release of pro-democracy activist Suu Kyi, the Democratic Voice of Burma reported.

The nine journals, which include the Voice Journal and Myanmar Newsweek, allocated front-page space for images of the opposition activist, who was released on November 13 after seven years of house arrest.

The First Eleven Journal, a sports magazine, was suspended for two weeks after printing a headline that read "Sunderland Freeze Chelsea; United Stunned by Villa & Arsenal Advance to Grab Their Hope" which the government's Press Scrutiny and Registration Division accused of carrying a hidden message: "Sun Free Unite and Advance to Grab The Hope."

This is the first time that a ban was placed on multiple publications. In Burma, all printed material is required to go through a censor board before it is published. Reporters Without Borders informed last year that Myanmar ranked 171 out of 175 countries in its Press Freedom Index.

The international body informed also that the regime was increasing censorship in the run-up to the first election in 20 years. Myanmar has more than 150 private magazines and newspapers and all are subjected to pre-publication censorship run by army officers.

Other journals included in the ban are: 7 Day News, Venus News, Snapshot News, Myanmar Post, Pyithu Khit, and the Hot News Journal, which was also given a two-week suspension.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was freed after military authorities in Myanmar signed an order authorizing the release. She was imprisoned for 15 years in the last 21 years. Her liberation came one week after the widely criticized election that many claimed was a charade to extend the military rule.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-23

[Pi Sek]

The First Eleven Journal, a sports magazine, was suspended for two weeks after printing a headline that read "Sunderland Freeze Chelsea; United Stunned by Villa & Arsenal Advance to Grab Their Hope" which the government's Press Scrutiny and Registration Division accused of carrying a hidden message: "Sun Free Unite and Advance to Grab The Hope."

<deleted>???

[Darvil]

They need to have something to do..