The profile pics of several journalists and photographers in Myanmar went dark today after a daily newspaper printed an apology to the military as part of a deal to end a pending lawsuit.
Myanmar’s military reportedly dropped the suit against local news journal 7Day after accusing the outlet of attempting to destroy the army.
As part of the negotiations, the newspaper apologized in state media this week, saying the story in question was published “honestly” and was not meant to incite disloyalty.
They “respectfully apologized” for the “misunderstanding.”
While a report in the Myanmar Times says that contrary to previous reports, the negotiations over the lawsuit are ongoing, deputy police officer Thein Han from Kamaryut Police Station told Coconuts Yangon Wednesday afternoon that it’s over.
“We got confirmation to close the lawsuit,” he said. “Lieutenant Colonel Linn Htun came and sent the letter to us.”
Rank and file members of the media were not pleased, hence the profile changes.
“I changed this because I feel sad for the truth as the truth was pressured in different ways to seem like it is not the truth,” said one photographer.
Another wrote, after changing his profile, “I stand with the journalists of 7Day.”
The paper had quoted former Speaker Shwe Mann as telling Defence Services Academy graduates to fall in line with Aung San Suu Kyi’s new government.
The complainant claimed the story implied disloyalty within the military and sued on June 25, citing a penal code provision covering abetting “mutiny” and carrying 10 years in prison.
Myanmar’s Press Council played intermediary.
The military has a long record of targeting the press. While recent years have brought an easing of the restrictions that were in place during the junta years, journalists have continued to face arrest and prosecution.
7Day isn’t the first newspaper to apologize to the military, and it probably won’t be the last.
In March last year, the Myanmar Times said sorry for a cartoon that offended the armed forces.
