Irrawaddy news agency told to change name

The Myanmar Ministry of Information is applying pressure on the Irrawaddy news agency to change the name of its journals and magazines and threatening legal action if it fails to do so, sources from the Irrawaddy said.

On December 16, several state-run newspapers published a statement from Ministry of Information that said to have publishing licenses renewed, the news agency must change the names of The Irrawaddy Weekly Journal (in Myanmar language) and The Irrawaddy Magazine (in English). The statement continued that the renewal without any change would violate Article 15/89 (the Adaptation of Expressions Law) enacted on June 18, 1989 by the then-ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council.

The Ministry of Information said The Irrawaddy can continue to use its logo “The Irrawaddy” for both publications but it would have to either spell the name “Irrawaddy” in Myanmar language in the title of its publications or use the English spelling prescribed in the Adaptation of Expressions Law.

The news agency submitted applications for the license renewals on December 2.

The Irrawaddy responded that it would continue to publish the journal and magazine without any change.

The news agency experienced a similar problem after it won the initial licenses. Three weeks after the licenses were granted, it was told to change the names in a letter sent by Aung Kyaw Oo, director of the Patent Rights and Registration Sub-department, which is under the Information and Public Relations Department in the Ministry of Information.

The news agency then insisted that it would not follow the order, as “The Irrawaddy” has been used for over twenty years.

“At that time, the international news media that are familiar with us said this was an unfair interference by the Ministry of Information into the affairs of a news outlet. When we responded to the ministry after talking with our legal advisors, they could not say anything, and they allowed us to continue using our name. However, we expected this to happen when we sought to renew our license,” said Ye Ne, editor in-charge of the Myanmar programme.

Some viewed the agency was singled out for this because of its popularity and its reputation for criticising the government. Suspecting that the authorities wanted it to use the local spelling “Ayeyawaddy” for “Irrawaddy”, the news agency changed it in the Myanmar language licence application form.

“It is nonsense, but we made the change to cooperate with [the government]. We oppose the existing law, which was drafted in the military junta era. We feel their actions are regressive and place pressure on us,” said the editor in-charge.

Based in Thailand, Aung Zaw, the Irrawaddy’s founder and chief editor, sees the ministry’s actions as part of a general trend of deteriorating rights for journalists in Myanmar.

 “The government sent ten journalists to prison and placed another 17 on trial, and now it is applying pressure upon The Irrawaddy. These actions contradict President Thein Sein’s remarks about the media being the fourth pillar of the government,” he said. 

The news agency has operated in exile for over twenty years. It opened its office in Yangon in October 2012 after the junta’s power ceased. The Irrawaddy Journal was first published in 2014. Early 2014, special police investigators visited its office and interrogated its editors. In April, a general from National Defence and Security Council met with editors from the Irrawaddy to ask them to reduce their criticism the government and the army.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) honoured Aung Zaw with a press freedom award in November 2014. Upon his acceptance of the award, Aung Zaw urged caution when dealing with the Myanmar government.