Guwahati: Expressing concern over the imposition of a restriction on 97 media outlets by the military-controlled government in Naypyitaw, the Geneva-based global media safety and rights body, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), urges the authorities to revoke all kinds of bans, restrictions, and de-licensing on news outlets.
Reacting to recent news from the Southeast Asian nation about the cancellation of operating licences of three more media outlets, namely Myaelatt Athan, Red News Agency, and Asia Citizens, PEC demanded that the country’s quasi-civilian junta government allow all media groups to perform their duties in a free and fair atmosphere.
“We demand that all independent media outlets and publishing houses be given a free hand to function properly. Myanmar’s Independent Press Council claimed that its country remains among the worst nations across the world for press freedom restrictions. The newly appointed President Min Aung Hlaing should take an initiative to ease all kinds of restrictions on the media in Myanmar,” said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (https://www.pressemblem.ch/pec-news).
PEC’s south and southeast Asia representative, Nava Thakuria, informed that over 215 media professionals were arrested since the military coup took place on 1 February 2021, where 18 journalists continue to be under detention to date. According to Athan, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting freedom of expression in Myanmar, no new arrest (of scribes) by the military junta was reported in the first quarter of 2026, and even seven journalists were released under amnesty till March end.