Burma

Internal Power Struggle at Myanmar Times?

By LA PYAE Friday, January 21, 2011

Tin Htun Oo (R) is close to the Burmese regime's information minister, Kyaw Hsan (L). (Photo: MWJA)

TEXT SIZE

RANGOON — Rumors are rife in Rangoon media circles about a possible takeover of Myanmar Consolidate Media (MCM) group, the company that owns four major publications in Burma: leading weekly The Myanmar Times in both Burmese and English; lifestyle journal Now!; and a weekly tabloid called Crime.

A source close to MCM said the company is entrenched in an internal power struggle between between two major shareholders, co-founder Ross Dunkley who is Australian, and Tin Htun Oo who is the owner of Swezon media group and publisher of The Myanmar Times.

The Myanmar Times co-founder Ross Dunkley.

According to the source, Tin Htun Oo, who contested for a seat in Pazundaung Township representing the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party but lost in the 2010 election, has been duelling with Dunkley to take over the position of CEO and editor-in-chief of MCM. Dunkley reportedly rejected the move in the past, resulting in an unfriendly relationship between the two shareholders.

On Jan. 17, a report in the state-owned Mirror newspaper indicated that Tin Htun Oo has taken over as editor-in-chief of MCM.

“Myanmar Consolidate Media Group Editor-in-Chief Dr. Tin Htun Oo donated over 2.6 million Kyats worth of journals to the library,” the newspaper said.

The article reportedly sent shock waves around the newsroom at The Myanmar Times. According to sources at the newspaper, MCM sent a official letter to Mirror complaining that Tin Htun Oo is not in an editorial position.

Permission for the publication of The Myanmar Times was originally granted in 2000 to Sonny Swe, the son of former military intelligence officer Brig-Gen Thein Swe. Forty-nine percent of shares were owned by Dunkley while Sonny Swe held onto 51 percent. Following Sonny Swe’s imprisonment in 2005, his shares were handed to Tin Htun Oo, who is close to the military regime's information minister, Kyaw Hsan.

Sources said that Tin Htun Oo's efforts to take over The Myanmar Times may well be successful as the military junta can interfere in the issue at any time.

In 2008, The Myanmar Times was ordered to sack four of its Burmese editors after carrying a report that had not been authorized by the government’s censorship board.

Dunkley is also a key stockholder in The Phnom Penh Post, a Cambodian English-language newspaper.

COMMENTS (0)