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These contacts, they say, have given him the ability to buy and sell land as well as obtain coveted car import licenses with which to sell foreign vehicles in Rangoon.

 

“If he takes over part ownership of Myanmar Times… [it] will be nothing. His publications—all publications—lack the spirit of journalism,” a Burmese journalist commented, highlighting Tin Tun Oo’s failure to attempt to push the boundaries of Burma’s censorship process during his lengthy spell working in the country’s publishing industry.

 

The Burmese junta’s increased meddling in the private press this year has resulted in a severe downturn in fortunes at the Myanmar Times. The paper has still not been able to print on its own presses, and there are rumors the organization is in financial difficulties, having previously been considered one of the richest publications in Burma before the dismantling of MI.

 

Whereas the paper employed eight native English-speaking staff a year ago, it now only has four after most of those that left did so citing instability and increasing editorial constraint. Furthermore, Dunkley is still no nearer his plan to publish five editions a week.

 

The occasional sensitive story has appeared in the paper in recent months, but these have been far outweighed by regular contributions by MOI—a scourge all Burmese publications have faced this year.

 

MOI’s stated plans to encourage spontaneous positive coverage of government policy in the private press now look more likely in the case of the Myanmar Times following the ouster of Sonny Swe and his wife, analysts say.

 

Sonny Swe never had any editorial involvement and neither does his wife now—both have always controlled the business and marketing side of the operation. They were, however, close to Dunkley, allowing the Australian free editorial rein within the constraints of the censorship process. The new majority-owning partner will undoubtedly be an unknown quantity for Dunkley—he is not close to any of those said to have shown an interest thus far. That the new controlling stakeholder will be close to major players in the Burmese military, however, can be considered a certainty, sources say.

 

The Myanmar Times’ CEO Ross Dunkley, the head of Thuta Swezone Publishing, Tin Tun Oo, and Burma’s Press Scrutiny and Registration Division were all unavailable for comment.