2.2. Revoking Media Licenses and Repression on Private-owned News Media 2.2.a. Shutting Down the Private-owned, Free-to-Air Channels by Two Licensed News Media With the coup introduced on 1st February, SAC shut down private-owned free-to-air channels by Mizzima and DVB, which broadcasts under the agreement with Myanmar Radio and Television under the Ministry of Information since February 2018. For the sake of eliminating press freedom, SAC outrageously stifles those two widespread and influential broadcasting programs. An official from Mizzima, the banned free-to-air broadcasting media, remarks that shutting down those channels is breaching the rights agreed in their contract. Fig: Notice of SAC’s Ministry of Information about Revoking News Media Licenses 2.2.b. Revoking News Media Licenses On 8th March, more than a month after the coup, SAC’s Ministry of Information announced revoking news media licenses for DVB, Myanmar Now, Mizzima, 7 Days, and Khit-thit Media. The statement banning the news media production process, starting from 8th March, indicated SAC’s repression of news media agencies. Repeated Dark Age of News Media 7

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