IFJ calls on the military council to stop oppressing the news media.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a statement today on July 18 asking the military council to stop oppressing the news media.
In a statement, the IFJ condemned the Ministry of Information's threat of legal action against the banned Democratic Voice of Myanmar (DVB) and Mizzima News and called for the suspension of legal action.
The Myanmar Journalists' Network also stated in IFJ's request that the closure of DVB and Mizzima TV channels without prior warning by the Ministry of Information is a violation of bilateral agreements and further action is illegal.
The Ministry of Information of the Military Council said on July 8 that it is preparing to file a lawsuit against DVB and Mizzima TV channels, which were included in the state-owned Myanmar Television (MRTV) before the military takeover, on the grounds of arrears.
The military council has said that DVB TV channel will file a lawsuit because it owes more than 20 million per month and Mizzima TV channel more than 80 million for 4 months as a channel insertion fee.
After the coup d'état, in addition to the Democratic Voice of Myanmar (DVB) and Mizzima media outlets, the military council also banned Seven Day (7 Day), Myanmar Now, and Khit Thit media in 2021. The business license has been suspended since March 8. Since then, media licenses have continued to be suspended, and up to now, 13 media outlets have been closed.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s 2022 world press freedom ranking, Myanmar's press freedom is 176 out of 180.
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