Eleven Media Group CEO, Dr Than Htut Aung, and group Editor-in-Chief, Wai Phyo, have been charged under Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act following the publication of the Myanmar language version of an article written by Dr Aung. The article, originally published in English across a number of Asia News Network newspapers, assessed the state of Mynamar one year on from historic elections that took place in November 2015.

The piece was subsequently published in Daily Eleven and on its Facebook page and addressed allegations of corruption within the new government that had been circulating on social media. The Yangon Regional Government, under the auspices of Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein, reacted by calling for the sources of the accusations to be revealed and referring the matter to the Myanmar Press Council.

Eleven Media Group has refused to answer the Regional Government’s questions and denounced the pressure as an attack against press freedom, instead calling for full and transparent investigations into the allegations. The media group has pledged full cooperation with any public inquiry that may be formed to examine the allegations.

However, reports suggest that Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein reacted by suing the executives under section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act. Dr Aung and Mr Phyo have been remanded in custody and reportedly sent to Insein prison, awaiting a court hearing on 25th November.

Read WAN-IFRA's protest letter here