The military council that seized power arrested journalists and imprisoned them. Such as revoking the publication license of news outlets. On the other hand, independent media workers say that the state-owned media is broadcasting propaganda news to mislead the public.
For example, some local residents of Yangon and Sagaing said that the program "People's Talk between the People" broadcast every Wednesday by the military-controlled Thazin-FM media is broadcasting propaganda news.
This program has been observed since the end of 2021. Among the programs, independent news media are described as subversive media. The NUG and PDF groups have also broadcast stories that make it difficult for the people to live.
"Spreading false information, We are also doing propaganda news.”
There are many people who come and listen to music because they broadcast various songs in the broadcasting program. In the meantime, a resident of Khin Oo Township, Saikai Province, who did not want to be named, said that they are spreading propaganda.
"When they came up with contemporary songs and various songs, they listened only because they wanted to listen to those songs. They want to lie to the public by listening to it on the radio. In fact, what they are lying about is what is happening on the ground and the people are actually suffering. The military council burned it. People kill. beans, All the rice is being destroyed in front of my eyes. It is a reality that the people are suffering because they spread as much as they like, and no one believes their words anymore."
A Yangon resident, who did not wish to be named, said that he only listens to broadcasts from independent news outlets.
"The voices they broadcast today, the comics they want to broadcast, the people are not interested in anything. The BBC we listen to VOA RFA The new era and Mizzima all listen. So in the media, how will they fight this media? I see an increase. RFA and these. I got this news from here. Provide information. From here, they can actually upload their processes. There, they follow it and cover it up to the ground."
According to the Detained Journalist Group, which is organized for detained journalists, more than 160 journalists were arrested during the two and a half years of the coup, and 49 of them are still in various prisons. The publishing licenses of 14 independent news outlets were also revoked.
DVB journalist Ko Min Nyo, who was imprisoned, said that the military council is sending false information to the people and oppressing journalists from independent media.
"When I saw that the army was beating up children who had not reached the age of majority on the street and dragging them inhumanely, I stole them from a house with a phone. I saw Wright. They saw me and beat me around with batons. circled. Grinding. When I was being beaten, I remembered that the district police chief remembered me. That journalist That guy is poisonous, News outlets selling abroad The guy who is selling the country, kill that guy, kill that guy, I beat him up and arrested him. Mainly, they are worried that the country will know if we report this kind of news."
On the other hand, the military council is oppressing the independent news media. On the other hand, RFA called General Zaw Min Tun, who had the right to speak, to find out the opinion of the military council regarding the criticism that propaganda is being broadcast, but he did not receive an answer.
General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the Military Council, said that programs that will be of interest to the public and educational programs need to be broadcasted in June 2023 when I went to watch Myawati Television and Thazin-FM broadcasts.
National Unity Government (NUG) Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson U Ne Boorn Lat said - The military council is trying to hide the news and keep people in the army from knowing the real news.
"Let the correct information about Myanmar reach the world. Not to be known among the people, and also not to be known by the people among them. These cases of suppression of independent news media, These are the cases of creating fake news. What's more, what I'm doing is impersonating the media. We can see that they are using their tools called the media to spread fake news again."
The Military Council also widely used Telegram to spread false information. Some journalists said that they are also doing propaganda news.
U Sein Win, newsroom management editor of Mizzima news agency, said that people now need to be careful.
"What people should be careful about is wrong information. This misinformation is not a disguised attack in the army of the military council. I have been doing it for a long time. There are things that I hear about and things like that often happen. You should be aware of that."
According to the New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as of December 2022, Myanmar is the third worst country in the world for arresting and imprisoning journalists, after China and Iran.
According to RSF's 2022 world press freedom ranking, Myanmar's press freedom is listed at 176 out of 180.
Ministry of Religion: Hajj 2023 teaches lessons to prepare for health from an early age
Jakarta - The Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) stated that the implementation of the Hajj pilgrimage 1444 Hijriah/2023 AD provides lessons about the importance of preparing the health of Hajj pilgrims as early as possible.
"In holding the 2024 Hajj, we will strive to ensure a healthy, comfortable and mabrur Hajj. Mudzakarah Perhajian which discusses istithaah or health capabilities is one of the first steps," said Special Staff to the Minister of Religion for Media and Public Communications, Wibowo Prasetyo, in Jakarta, Wednesday.
Wibowo said that the issue of pilgrims' health was one of the Ministry of Religion's concerns in carrying out operational preparations for the 1445 Hijriah/2024 AD Hajj pilgrimage.
Based on data from the Integrated Hajj Computerized System (Siskohat), 774 Indonesian pilgrims died during the 2023 Hajj. This figure is the highest in the last 10 years.
"This is important, we have to prepare early so that when the call comes, the congregation is ready physically and mentally," he said.
Health Istithaah, said Wibowo, emphasizes the importance of the physical abilities of Hajj candidates. Implementation of istithaah for next year's event to reduce the death rate in the Holy Land.
"We want the death rate for pilgrims next year to be lower than in 2023," he said.
Wibowo said a number of steps would be prepared by the Ministry of Religion, one of which was to raise awareness of the congregation regarding the importance of maintaining health during the Hajj pilgrimage. Moreover, health istithaah will be a condition for paying off the Hajj Travel Costs (Bipih).
"Pilgrims who are examined and healthy are asked to maintain their health and in time can pay off the Hajj expenses. Pilgrims who are examined and are sick are asked to recover so they can perform repayment," he said.
Indonesia says talks on Burma issue are still far away
The government of Indonesia, which is the rotating chairman of ASEAN, has admitted that there is still a long way to go for political talks involving all relevant organizations in Myanmar.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said this at the 2023 ASEAN Media Conference held today in Jakarta, Indonesia. At the same time, despite these conditions, the Indonesian government will continue to persuade the relevant parties to hold such dialogues, he said.
In addition, the Indonesian government is communicating with various organizations, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Military Council, to end the conflict in Burma.
Since assuming the role of ASEAN rotating chairman in January of this year, more than 180 meetings have been held so far.
He asked if both the NUG and the military council were willing to discuss without any prior restrictions, but there was no positive response.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Reno Masudi said that it would not be possible without trust between the stakeholders for such talks to take place.
He also said that even after the end of the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, they will continue to work for Myanmar's affairs, Jakarta News reported.