Beyond the Headlines: Myanmar junta clamps down harder on media 

Media

Myanmar’s military regime has officially banned The Irrawaddy, the news outlet reported on October 31. 

In a statement released three days earlier, the junta’s Ministry of Information accused the organisation of “damaging state security, rule of law and public tranquillity” in its coverage of the country’s post-coup conflict. 

The Irrawaddy said that its publisher, Thaung Win, was arrested several weeks before its publishing license was revoked, and that a staff member was also temporarily detained earlier this year.

The publication was sued for incitement in March of last year for its reporting on anti-coup protests. Regime forces raided its office in downtown Yangon twice last year, and the home of one of its editors early this year.

The military also announced in mid-October that it would take legal action against The Irrawaddy and the BBC Burmese Service for their reporting on the fatal shooting of three pilgrims near Mon State’s Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as the Golden Rock, during a shootout there between resistance fighters and junta soldiers on October 12.

The Irrawaddy and other outlets reported that the victims were killed when soldiers opened fire in response to an ambush by anti-regime forces.

Junta affairs

A new Registration of Associations Law went into effect on October 28, imposing new restrictions on not-for-profit groups, including both local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). 

The new legislation, which replaces a law enacted under the quasi-civilian administration of former general Thein Sein in 2014, requires that at least 40 percent of board members must be Myanmar nationals and explicitly forbids groups from “interfering in the internal affairs or politics of the state.”

The move has alarmed many civil society groups and charitable organisations, as it also requires that they submit quarterly reports to junta-controlled township General Administration Departments and allow inspections by any “concerned government authorities” when needed. 

Other provisions include increases in registration and renewal fees, changes in the registration timeline, and tightening of appeals against rejection of registration applications.

The law also introduces criminal penalties of up to five years for organisations having direct or indirect contact with or supporting groups and individuals that have taken up arms against the state, or that are designated by the state as terrorists or unlawful associations. The same penalty applies to organisations that the regime sees as “directly or indirectly harming the sovereignty, law and order, security, and ethnic unity of the state.”

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Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing visited the towns of Dawei and Myeik in southern Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region last week to meet with local businesspeople and inspect the site of a long-delayed Special Economic Zone (SEZ), state media reported. 

The multibillion-dollar SEZ project, located near Dawei’s deep-sea port, has faced strong local opposition since 2008, when the junta then in power signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Thailand to transform the coastal town into Southeast Asia’s largest industrial and trade zone. 

Min Aung Hlaing’s visit was seen by some as a sign that he is keen to resume the project, which covers an area of nearly 200 square kilometres.

International affairs

Thai authorities seized US$47m worth of assets from a drug network operated by Myanmar arms dealer Tun Min Latt, the Bangkok Post reported on November 3. The assets included money, cars, luxury items, hotels, and resorts.

The 53-year-old was detained by the Royal Thai Police on September 17 along with three Thai nationals for suspected involvement in narcotics distribution and money laundering.

Rights groups Justice for Myanmar has also accused him of acting as an arms broker for Myanmar’s military junta. The son of a former air force lieutenant colonel, he has reportedly been involved in acquiring drones and aircraft parts for the regime, which has made extensive use of fighter jets and attack helicopters to carry out airstrikes on resistance forces and civilians.

Urban violence

At least three regime targets were attacked with explosives in Mandalay early last week, resulting in a number of junta casualties.

The first incident took place in the city’s Pyigyitagon Township on October 31, where a ward administration office was attacked by three urban guerrilla groups armed with grenades. A ward administrator was killed and at least five junta forces were injured, the groups claimed. Local residents confirmed the reports.

The next day, junta forces on patrol in three vehicles were attacked with explosives at a street junction in Aungmyay Thazan Township in an early morning ambush. Two vehicles sustained damage and at least one police officer was killed, local residents said.

About three hours later, residents of Chanmyathazi Township reported hearing a loud explosion near an area police station, followed by continuous gunfire. Citing eyewitnesses, a resident told Myanmar Now that the target was a police vehicle used to transport prisoners. At least two police officers were reportedly killed.

Religion

November 7 was the full moon day of the Myanmar month of Tazaungmon, which marks the end of the Buddhist rains retreat. As one of the key events of the traditional Myanmar calendar, it typically sees large numbers of devotees flocking to temples. This year, however, security was reportedly tight at Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s most revered religious site. Pagoda trustees closed the west gate and junta forces—both in uniform and in plainclothes—were seen surrounding the golden structure.