Press Council to mediate over Yangon govt complaint against Weekly Eleven journalists

Press Council to mediate over Yangon govt complaint against Weekly Eleven journalists
Published 14 November 2018
Kyi Naing

Myanmar Press Council (MPC) met with officials from Eleven Media Group (EMG) to discuss the complaint lodged by the Yangon Region government against three journalists from Weekly Eleven Journal including the chief editor at the council office in Botahtaung Township on November 13.

The meeting was attended by EMG Managing Director Dr Thein Myint, Eleven Broadcasting Chief Editor Wai Phyo and Deputy Chief Editor Na Yi Min (aka) Dr Min Lwin. After the meeting, MPC Chairman Hanthawady Ohn Kyaing told the media that his council would try to mediate between the two sides.  

"After we have sought the stance of this side, we will negotiate with the other side. Today, I asked them to write down their attitudes. They did it. When we negotiate with the other side, we will try to mediate until the problem is solved. We cannot accept any tension or dead end. According to the council's duty and the rights entrusted by the law, we must try to mediate between the two parties. If it doesn't work after repeated mediation, just go to court," said the MPC chairman.

"The press council is only a single organization that can decide over the issues of journalists. Under section 12 of the law, if there is a complaint, both sides will be called for negotiation. The problem will be solved through mediation. If it doesn't work, a lawsuit can be filed. But a lawsuit has to come under this law (the media law)," he added.

He said it was the first invitation to settle the case through the media law, adding that Weekly Eleven Journal Chief Editor Kyaw Zaw Lin and the chief reporter could not turn up. As they demanded another appointment date after November 27, the council accepted it and will continue the mediation. He said the council did not accept a letter to the President presented by EMG, urging them to directly send it.

Managing Director Dr Thein Myint from EMG told the media: "The council invited us to come. There are three accused. Of them, two could not come. Only Ko Na Yi Min can come. Ko Kyaw Zaw Lin has gone to the ASEAN meetings for news coverage. Phyo Wai is away on earned leave. We have said all will be coming after November 27. They will clarify where they got this news, where the source was based on and why they wrote this news. Phyo Wai, who wrote this article, will also explain. I am satisfied with today's meeting because the press council did its own job. It called us to meet. We explained what we could do. We took Ko Na Yi Min here. He has nothing to do with this case. In our office, editors in charge have different duties. Ko Na Yi Min handles international news. He edits international news and articles. We explained to them he has nothing to do with the case."

MPC Secretary Kyaw Swar Min said the council started dealing with the complaint filed by the Yangon Region government against Chief Editor Kyaw Zaw Lin, Editor in Chief Na Yi Min (aka) Dr Min Lwin and Chief Reporter Phyo Wai (aka) Phyo Wai Win under the media law. He said the council demanded letters of explanation.

"Now, we have started handling the case. If we receive a complaint, we inform the complainee. We ask the complainee what he wants to explain. We ask for a letter of explanation. What the Eleven Media has presented is reasonable. We will question whether the complainee has really violated the ethnics or done wrong," said the council secretary.

According to the procedure, MPC will meet the region government on November 15.

The complaint was sent to MPC demanding a suit against the three journalists under section 9 Sub-section (a), (c), (g) and (i) of the Media Law.