Several publications in Burma are being forced to run news stories about meetings between Rangoon-based western diplomats and the recently released former student leader Min Ko Naing, as well as with the main opposition party, according to journalists in Rangoon.

Min Ko Naing

Details of embassy cars visiting Min Ko Naing’s home and the headquarters of the National League for Democracy, or NLD, were carried in reports appearing in recent issues of a number of publications, said a freelance journalist in Rangoon, who requested anonymity.

The order to the publications to carry details of the movements of embassy vehicles is the first made by the Press Scrutiny and Registration Board, or PSRB, since the October purge. The PSRB is responsible for monitoring and censoring every publication in Burma.  

The journalist said that identical reports on embassy vehicle movements were carried on Monday and Tuesday by the weeklies Pan Tha Tinn, 7 Days News, Pyi Myanmar, Good News (Kaung Tha Tinn), under the byline Ahtoo Tha Tinn Htaut (“special reporter”). 

The reports said cars from the American, British, German, French, Australian and Japanese embassies entered the NLD headquarters compound, noted who was inside the vehicles, when they arrived and when they left. They reported that the diplomats met NLD spokesman U Lwin, the journalist said.

A car from the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, also figured in the reports. 

Good News reported on Monday that Min Ko Naing was invited for lunch on November 22 by a senior US embassy official. The report even gave details of conversations between the official and Min Ko Naing, quoting the diplomat as expressing happiness and appreciation on the former student leader’s release, the journalist said.

Min Ko Naing, “Conqueror of Kings”, was released on Nov 19 after serving 16 years in jail for his leadership role in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising.