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Several papers stop publishing in Myanmar
Govt pressure and unrest in the streets of Yangon have forced several of Myanmar's private newspapers to stop publishing.
Government pressure and unrest in the streets of Yangon have forced several of Myanmar's private newspapers to stop publishing, an industry leader said on Friday.
"Some publications may have been forced to close down because they refused to carry the government's propaganda," he said on condition of anonymity.
Myanmar's censors always exert tight controls over the media to limit their reporting, but pressure has become unusually high.
People found with cell phones or cameras were beaten by soldiers on Thursday, witnesses said, while a Japanese photojournalist died after being shot.
The newspapers were also struggling to operate because unrest in the streets over the last two days made it impossible for vendors to sell papers, the source added.
"Their people can't get out there selling them because of the problems," he said
.
Four weekly newspapers printed by the Eleven Media group, two weeklies by Yangon Media, and three weeklies titled Kamudra, Voice and Market have all stopped publishing, he said.
Another newspaper group, Pyi Myanmar, was planning to completely shut down, he added.
The Myanmar Times newspaper indicated it would continue publishing.
Myanmar's authorities have tightened their grip over the nation's media, cutting phone service to some local and foreign journalists, and warning local reporters not to join the protests.
