Rejection and Condemnation of the Military Council’s Newly Formed Press Council

Rejection and Condemnation of the Military Council’s Newly Formed Press Council

On November 20, 2024, the military junta announced the formation of a new press council under its control. The Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) firmly believes that this newly established press council has been created solely to suppress independent media and journalists while curtailing press freedom to serve the interests of the military junta.

IMJA strongly believes that this press council will neither uphold press freedom nor represent the interests of journalists but will instead function as a mechanism to further the propaganda and agenda of the military regime.

After the military seized power in 2021, the junta-controlled Ministry of Information pressured media organizations to avoid using terms like “military coup regime.” Consequently, 24 out of 26 members of the previous press council resigned in protest. At that time, the junta formed its own press council, which was used to suppress media organizations and journalists. This included shutting down media outlets, arbitrarily arresting, torturing, and killing journalists while disseminating misinformation aligned with the junta’s interests.

The recent formation of another similar press council is a continuation of these efforts to suppress press freedom and control independent media and journalists.

IMJA categorically rejects and condemns the newly established junta-controlled press council and its members. This council does not represent independent journalism or media freedom and only serves as a tool for the military junta’s oppressive agenda.