yanmar's Eleven Media Group CEO Dr Than Htut Aung and chief editor Wai Phyo were charged under section 66(d) of Telecommunications Act by Yangon chief minister Phyo Min Thein over an article “A year after the Nov. 8 polls” by Dr Than Htut Aung.
The article was featured on Asia News Network as well.
Wai Phyo said: “CEO and I came to police to be questioned as the Yangon Region government sued us under section 66(d) of Telecommunications Act.”
Press Council refuses to intervene
The Myanmar Press Council announced on Thursday it could not intervene in a case involving the Eleven Media Group (EMG) in regard to an editorial published by the Daily Eleven newspaper on Sunday titled “Myanmar: A year after the Nov 8 polls”, despite a request to do so by Yangon Region Government.
The press council said it received a letter this week from Moe Hein, director of Yangon Region Government, asking for the council to intervene in regard to the editorial, which it alleged was incorrect.
It said Chief Minister of Yangon Region Phyo Min Thein held a press conference on Wednesday to announce that he had filed a case against Eleven Media Group’s CEO and the group under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law.
The council said in the statement that it would not intervene in an attempt to mediate the case, given the Yangon Region Government would first need to agree to withdraw its initial lawsuit, as stipulated in the Media Law.
The council also replied to the region government.
Eleven Media received a letter on Monday bearing the seal of the Yangon Region Government and written by director Moe Hein on behalf of the chief minister. It asked two main questions: “(A) Who is the rich man who gave a gift to the elected minister and was recently released from jail after serving time for his involvement in a drugs case and received approval for building a new city under the new government? (B) Who is the businessman who wears the Patek Philippe watch?”
Eleven Media denounced the letter as a bid to pressure the organisation by asking for sources and defying media ethics. Eleven Media said it would not provide answers. However, the organisation said it would cooperate if a proper investigation was undertaken.
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