ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Nem Davies | New Delhi – A daily newspaper will be launched soon in Naypyitaw, the seat power of the military junta, Rangoon based media circles said.

The regime's Information Ministry will launch the new daily newspaper in January 2009, it is learnt.

"Yes, we heard so. It will be a daily newspaper, probably called 'Naypyitaw'. But it cannot be confirmed," a reporter of a Rangoon based foreign media said.

The first ever newspaper published from Naypyitaw will be named 'Naypyidaw Times' and it will cover mainly local news, US based Burmese service broadcast media 'Radio Free Asia' reported.

Maj. Hlaing Myint, Director of 'News and Periodicals Corporation' at Naypyitaw did not deny the news but he declined to give details when Mizzima contacted him.

"We shall release the official news when we confirm it. At that time we shall let you know," he said.

The junta is currently publishing three daily newspapers namely 'Myanmar Ahlin' (Burmese and English) and 'The Mirror' as its mouthpiece reflecting its views and policies. So this new daily will also be its new official organ, the media community felt.

"It will be no different from previous official organs as it will reflect the junta's policies and propaganda. It will be just another junta newspaper," a Rangoon based veteran magazine editor who wished not to be named said.

A news circulating in the media community said the junta is granting newspaper publishing license to five Rangoon based weekly journals including 'Weekly Eleven', 'Popular' and 'Myanmar Times'.

But the editor of 'Popular Journal' U Hein Latt denied this and said that they would not change their weekly journal to a daily newspaper.

"No, this news is wrong. It is just rumour. They (junta) will not give such publishing license to us. All weekly journals want to get such daily newspaper license. We didn't apply for the newspaper license. I think the people have confused it with our weekly journal license," he said.

They will only expand their publication with the new 'Popular News Journal' soon, he added.