Association backs MT reporter in defamation suit

Association backs MT reporter in defamation suit

By Phyo Wai Kyaw   |   Monday, 17 June 2013

The Myanmar Journalists Association has criticised government officials for filing a defamation suit against a senior reporter from The Myanmar Times over coverage of a recent dispute in Mandalay Region's Madaya township.

The association's Mandalay branch vowed to stand by the reporter, Ko Si Thu Lwin, and help him fight the legal action.

Myanmar Consolidated Media, publisher of The Myanmar Times, stands by Ko Si Thu Lwin and the contents of his article, a spokesperson said.

The company is ready to provide legal support if the court accepts the charges following the investigation, the spokesperson said.

Madaya township electricity engineer U Nyan Htun submitted the complaint on May 29 on the basis that an article by Ko Si Thu Lwin published in the paper's May 24 Myanmar-language edition contained "some words that damaged the dignity of the electricity department and its staff".

Madaya Township Court on June 12 sent the case back to police to gather more evidence. The court is expected to decide in late June whether there is enough evidence to accept the charge.

Journalists' association chairman for Mandalay Soe Bar Dine said he would lobby the government to withdraw the case if the charge is accepted by the court.

"If the issue proceeds any further we will send a letter to the Ministry of Electrical Power and other government bodies. … The Madaya Township Court needs to decide first whether there is a basis for charges so the situation can change," he said on June 12.

The article concerned a dispute in Madaya between residents and engineers over the route of new high-tension power lines. Residents argued that the line should bypass the town rather than be run down the main street for environmental and safety reasons. The dispute was resolved in favour of the residents through a lucky draw, but the Mandalay Region electricity department has vowed to press ahead with its original plan.

A second article was published in the paper's Myanmar edition on May 31 that included comments from the region-level engineer who is believed to have initiated the legal action. (See related story page 23.)

"The articles did not include the reporter's opinion or view and just explained the public's views on the project. When a complaint was received after the first article the reporter met again with the Mandalay regional engineer and wrote a follow-up article," Soe Bar Dine said.

After the complaint was filed on May 29 it was immediately transferred to the township court. The court accepted the case and transferred it back to the police station to investigate.

"I opened the case with the supervision of the district electrical engineer. To continue the process, we will also coordinate with the region and district levels. I was sad when I read the first article," Madaya township electrical engineer U Nyan Htun said on June 5.

Senior reporter Si Thu Lwin said he only learned a complaint had been filed when he read an article about it in the state-run Mandalay daily newspaper on June 3. "When the official letter [about the charges] comes to me, I will do what I have to do to fight the charges," he said.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/06/24/association-backs-mt-reporter-in-defamation-suit/