By Jaiden Coonan
YANGON
Press freedoms in Myanmar have been dealt another blow with the military making it illegal to report on the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the main opposition force in Kokang.
For months, the army has been battling the MNDAA in the northern part of Shan State, which shares a border with China.
Released on World Media Freedom Day, a statement from the army noted that under "Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act" anyone who “assists the operations” of a group deemed an unlawful association will face up to 3 years imprisonment.
“If the media broadcast or publish statements of the MNDAA, they will face action under the law,” it added.
The vice president of the Myanmar press council, U Khin Maung Lay, told the Myanmar Times on Monday that all ethnic groups were at risk of being “unlawful associates.”
“The other ethnic armed groups had contacts with the MNDAA in Pangkham. So, they [could] also have action taken against them under unlawful association. I don’t understand why the military released that statement. This can affect the peace process,” he said.
A six-day peace summit began in northern Shan State on Friday to discuss and seek adoption of a draft nationwide ceasefire accord, which was preliminarily signed between government peace negotiators and ethnic armed groups at the end of March.
The leaders of 12 invited armed groups attending the summit including the Kachin Independence Organization, the Karen National Union, the United Wa State Army, and the MNDAA.
Han Thar from Kamayut Media told The Anadolu Agency on Monday that the Myanmar press council was responsible for the brief.
“I had an email from the Myanmar press council informing me that I could no longer contact the MNDAA and if I did I would be in trouble. It is very confusing why they are doing this now,” he said.
Up until now it has been acceptable and common to contact the MNDAA and use spokesperson/leader U Tun Myat Lin for information on the conflict and how his group viewed possible ceasefire agreements.
Heavy fighting broke out in Kokang in early April, with the government claiming in state run media that it had been reclaiming strategic positions and cutting rebel communications.
Meanwhile, the MNDAA reported that the government was suffering heavy losses and no strategic land had been lost, but did admit that the group had "strategically" retreated from some areas.
Fighting with goverment troops began in February this year as the MNDAA attempted to reclaim land it had lost in 2009.
