Unit 2: 2.1. SAC’s Repressions on the Freedom and Rights of News Media and Journalists SAC’s Repression on Press Freedom A day after the coup, SAC announced a statement, dated 2nd February, curbing press freedom. In that announcement of the Ministry of Information refereeing SAC’s Order 1/2021, it described “not to make posting rumors on social media; releasing statements to occur riot and unstable situation and announced (media organizations) to cooperate with the government in accordance with the existing laws.” By denouncing press freedom as if creating rumors or invoking via news, SAC initiated its earliest step curbing press freedom. The next step became restricting the terms in mentioning the military council. The ministry, appointed by SAC, sent Myanmar Press Council a derivative, dated 11th February, to immediate the media agencies ‘according to journalism ethic’ for not using ‘Regime or Junta’ when mentioning SAC. The derivative includes journalists and media organizations needs to operate according to existing laws, elaborating Section 4, Article 9 (a) and (b) of News Media Law, and Section 4, Article 8 (a) and (b) of Printing and Publishing Enterprise Law, thus journalists and media organizations requires to exercise journalism ethics by not mistakenly using the terms such as ‘junta’ or ‘regime’. As seen in the following photo, the Ministry of Information also sent warning letters to the media agencies not to use such terms about SAC, threatening those actions would be taken if not followed the instruction. A few days after the coup, such a warning letter illustrates that the right to access information and other journalistic rights are harshly violated. Moreover, it is a fact that SAC disregards the rights and freedom meant for journalists and media agencies provided by existing New Media Law. Repeated Dark Age of News Media 5