The state, the military, and the market: Capture in the new Burmese media landscape ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The author would like to thank (in alphabetical order): Gayathry Venkiteswaran, Kate Gunn, Khin Maung Win, Michelle Foster, Myint Kyaw, Mark Nelson, Tessa Piper, Thiha Saw and Ye Naing Moe for reviewing the chapter, and providing ideas and information. She would also like to thank Yan Naung Oak for designing the infographics. ENDNOTES As Burma’s constitution blocks politicians with foreign children from becoming president, Aung San Suu Kyi is State Counsellor,Foreign Minister,and Minister of the President’s Office in the new NLD government led by proxy president Htin Kyaw (https://www.theguardian .com/world/2016/mar/10/aung-san-suu-kyi-nominates-htin-kyaw-Burma-president; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/10/aung-san-suu-kyi-nominates-htinkyaw-myanmar-president). 2 Section 66 (d) of the Burma telecommunications law prohibits the use of a telecommunications network to “extort, threaten, obstruct, defame, disturb, inappropriately influence or intimidate.” It was enacted in 2013 by Burma’s former quasi-civilian administration. 3 Series of Interviews with the Yangon Journalism School and Mandalay Journalism School founding director and lead trainer Ye Naing Moe (2016-2017); http://frontierBurma.net/ en/the-nlds-poor-record-media-engagement. 4 Interview with veteran media trainer and press council member, Myint Kyaw, Yangon, June 2016. 5 Ye Htut was Minister of Information from 2014-2016, and presidential spokesman from 2013-2016; Thu Thu Aung, and Ye Mon. 2015. “Minister for Facebook gets ready to sign off.” Myanmar Times, December 11. http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/nationalnews/yangon/18094-minister-for-facebook-gets-ready-to-sign-off.html. 6 Interview with Yangon Journalism School Director Ye Naing Moe, Yangon, June 6, 2016. 7 Interview with veteran journalist and press council member Thiha Saw, Yangon, June 2016. 8 “Human Rights Watch recommends criminal defamation laws should be abolished, as criminal penalties are always disproportionate punishments for reputational harm and infringe on peaceful expression. Criminal defamation laws are open to easy abuse, resulting in very harsh consequences, including imprisonment. As repeal of criminal defamation laws in an increasing number of countries shows, such laws are not necessary for the purpose of protecting reputations, particularly of government officials.” (https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/06/29/they-can-arrest-you-any-time/criminalizationpeaceful-expression-burma). 9 Interview with award-winning writer and PEN Myanmar founder and former President Ma Thida, Yangon, June 2016. 10 Minister of Information Pe Myint and other MOI representatives have publically stated that the NLD needs state media in order to communicate with citizens (2nd Media Policy Dialogue, May 2016, Yangon). 1 75