UNDER ARREST: Former WA journalist Ross Dunkley, now publishing a newspaper in Burma,has been arrested.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
By Post Staff
Phnom Penh Post
David Armstrong, Chairman of Post Media Ltd, publishers of Phnom Penh Post, today expressed deep concern over the arrest of Australian journalist and businessman Ross Dunkley in Myanmar.
Post Media is a sister company of Myanmar Consolidated Media, publishers of the Myanmar Times. Mr Dunkley is Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Myanmar Times, as well as Publisher of Phnom Penh Post.
Mr Armstrong said: “Ross Dunkley was arrested in Yangon under Myanmar's Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act, Section 13(1) on Thursday, February 10 after returning from a business trip to Tokyo.
“Some reports of the reasons for his arrest have been seriously inaccurate. A key point about the arrest is timing. It coincides with tense and protracted discussions Mr Dunkley and the foreign ownership partners in the Myanmar Times have been conducting with local partners about the future direction of the publishing group, ownership issues and senior leadership roles – all this at a time of significant political and economic change in Myanmar.
“Ross Dunkley is being detained in the notorious Insein prison until his next scheduled court appearance on February 24.
“His lawyers in Yangon say Mr Dunkley is confident he can answer any charges or allegations made against him and is looking forward to returning to lead the Myanmar Times group in the exciting times ahead – for the publishers and the country."
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Australian publisher Ross Dunkley arrested in Burma, according to reports
News.com.au
FORMER WA journalist Ross Dunkley, now publishing a newspaper in Burma, has been arrested at his home in Rangoon, news agencies say.
Mr Dunkley, who has worked at several newspapers in WA and founded the Myanmar Times in 2000, was detained at his residence late on Thursday, a former Australian newspaper executive David Armstrong told AAP .
Armstrong is chairman of Post Media, a sister company of Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM).
The arrest of Dunkley, who holds a 49 per cent share in MCM follows reports of growing conflict between him and Burmese shareholder Dr Tin Htun Oo, who holds the remaining 51 per cent.
Armstrong, a former editor of The Australian newspaper, said the arrest coincided with tense and drawn out discussions between Dunkley and the foreign ownership partners in the Myanmar Times.
Armstrong said in a statement it was a time of significant political and economic change in Burma.
He said some reports of the reasons for Dunkley's arrest had been seriously inaccurate.
Dunkley, he said, was arrested in Rangoon after returning from a business trip to Tokyo and had been charged under Burma's Immigration Act.
Aung Zaw, editor of the Thailand-based The Irrawaddy newspaper, told AAP the underlying reason for the arrest was apparent conflict over control of the publishing company.
``What is clear is that there was conflict between Dr Tin Htun Oo and Ross Dunkley and now it is apparent they want to take over the whole Myanmar Times, so that's it,'' Aung Zaw said.
``I think they will probably frame up the charges against him, which doesn't surprise anyone.''
Tin Htun Oo was an unsuccessful candidate in November's parliamentary elections for the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
After the election, the military maintained tight control over parliament.
Dunkley, who purchased the Cambodia-daily The Phnom Penh Post in 2008, has been viewed as a maverick in media circles in the region. He also invested in the Vietnam's fledgling media in the early 1990s.
In 2000 Dunkley invested in the Myanmar Times with Sonny Swe, the son of a former military intelligence chief, Khin Nyunt, who was later Prime Minister.
But when Khin Nyunt fell out of favour with Burma's hardline leadership, he and his family were found guilty of corruption and sentenced to lengthy prison term in 2005.
Sonny Swe's shares were passed over to Dr Tin Htun Oo, known to be close to the junta's information minister, Kyaw Hsan.
Aung Zaw said Burma's tough media controls and censorship as well as politics always meant it was risky investment for Dunkley.
``Also Ross, who claimed to be whatever... Asia's 'Rupert Murdoch'... should realise Burma is a political graveyard for everyone. Even he should realise how many journalists and reporters are being apprehended and spending time... in prison, Aung Zaw said.
Rights group, Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), says of the 2189 political prisoners being held in Burma around 30 are journalists and media activists.
Aung Zaw says the Dunkley arrest marks a further step by the hardline military leaders to tighten control over the media.
``A lot of Burmese inside the journalist community, it is not good news for them (of Dunkley's arrest) because you can see how the media is being manipulated and even prevented from covering the (recent opening) of the parliament session,'' he said.
Reporters Without Borders in 2010 ranked Burma as 174th out of 178 countries in its annual press freedom index.
``It seems like there will be much tighter control over the media,'' Aung Zaw said.
Dunkley is scheduled to face court on February 24.
David Armstrong, Chairman of Post Media Ltd, publishers of Phnom Penh Post, today expressed deep concern over the arrest of Australian journalist and businessman Ross Dunkley in Myanmar.
Post Media is a sister company of Myanmar Consolidated Media, publishers of the Myanmar Times. Mr Dunkley is Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Myanmar Times, as well as Publisher of Phnom Penh Post.
Mr Armstrong said: “Ross Dunkley was arrested in Yangon under Myanmar's Immigration (Emergency Provisions) Act, Section 13(1) on Thursday, February 10 after returning from a business trip to Tokyo.
“Some reports of the reasons for his arrest have been seriously inaccurate. A key point about the arrest is timing. It coincides with tense and protracted discussions Mr Dunkley and the foreign ownership partners in the Myanmar Times have been conducting with local partners about the future direction of the publishing group, ownership issues and senior leadership roles – all this at a time of significant political and economic change in Myanmar.
“Ross Dunkley is being detained in the notorious Insein prison until his next scheduled court appearance on February 24.
“His lawyers in Yangon say Mr Dunkley is confident he can answer any charges or allegations made against him and is looking forward to returning to lead the Myanmar Times group in the exciting times ahead – for the publishers and the country."
==================
Australian publisher Ross Dunkley arrested in Burma, according to reports
News.com.au
FORMER WA journalist Ross Dunkley, now publishing a newspaper in Burma, has been arrested at his home in Rangoon, news agencies say.
Mr Dunkley, who has worked at several newspapers in WA and founded the Myanmar Times in 2000, was detained at his residence late on Thursday, a former Australian newspaper executive David Armstrong told AAP .
Armstrong is chairman of Post Media, a sister company of Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM).
The arrest of Dunkley, who holds a 49 per cent share in MCM follows reports of growing conflict between him and Burmese shareholder Dr Tin Htun Oo, who holds the remaining 51 per cent.
Armstrong, a former editor of The Australian newspaper, said the arrest coincided with tense and drawn out discussions between Dunkley and the foreign ownership partners in the Myanmar Times.
Armstrong said in a statement it was a time of significant political and economic change in Burma.
He said some reports of the reasons for Dunkley's arrest had been seriously inaccurate.
Dunkley, he said, was arrested in Rangoon after returning from a business trip to Tokyo and had been charged under Burma's Immigration Act.
Aung Zaw, editor of the Thailand-based The Irrawaddy newspaper, told AAP the underlying reason for the arrest was apparent conflict over control of the publishing company.
``What is clear is that there was conflict between Dr Tin Htun Oo and Ross Dunkley and now it is apparent they want to take over the whole Myanmar Times, so that's it,'' Aung Zaw said.
``I think they will probably frame up the charges against him, which doesn't surprise anyone.''
Tin Htun Oo was an unsuccessful candidate in November's parliamentary elections for the junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
After the election, the military maintained tight control over parliament.
Dunkley, who purchased the Cambodia-daily The Phnom Penh Post in 2008, has been viewed as a maverick in media circles in the region. He also invested in the Vietnam's fledgling media in the early 1990s.
In 2000 Dunkley invested in the Myanmar Times with Sonny Swe, the son of a former military intelligence chief, Khin Nyunt, who was later Prime Minister.
But when Khin Nyunt fell out of favour with Burma's hardline leadership, he and his family were found guilty of corruption and sentenced to lengthy prison term in 2005.
Sonny Swe's shares were passed over to Dr Tin Htun Oo, known to be close to the junta's information minister, Kyaw Hsan.
Aung Zaw said Burma's tough media controls and censorship as well as politics always meant it was risky investment for Dunkley.
``Also Ross, who claimed to be whatever... Asia's 'Rupert Murdoch'... should realise Burma is a political graveyard for everyone. Even he should realise how many journalists and reporters are being apprehended and spending time... in prison, Aung Zaw said.
Rights group, Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), says of the 2189 political prisoners being held in Burma around 30 are journalists and media activists.
Aung Zaw says the Dunkley arrest marks a further step by the hardline military leaders to tighten control over the media.
``A lot of Burmese inside the journalist community, it is not good news for them (of Dunkley's arrest) because you can see how the media is being manipulated and even prevented from covering the (recent opening) of the parliament session,'' he said.
Reporters Without Borders in 2010 ranked Burma as 174th out of 178 countries in its annual press freedom index.
``It seems like there will be much tighter control over the media,'' Aung Zaw said.
Dunkley is scheduled to face court on February 24.
2 comments:
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why? Over 10 000 km2 have been given to Vitenam by Dr. Hun Sen treaty 1982. Why???
Why do you and all of your relatives involve a lot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder Cambodian K5, 1997 events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder Cambodians? Why? And Why?
If you are so good, why do above 90% Cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionaires and millionaires? Why? Why? Why do ordinary cambodians are poor ? Why don't they rich like you?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good why do you block KI from Cambodians?
If you are so good, why do you steal all Cambodian life such as well being, health, cut down Cambodians life expectancy as well? But you and your small group are eat well, sleep well, exercise well, have oversea doctors and best medical treatment from high class private doctors from oversea. Most Cambodians that have no money, your healthcare system left Cambodians patients to die in front of your hospital. Why? Why?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions Vietnamese are living permanently in Cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? And Why
Everywhere, I walk in Cambodia I see Vietnamese speak Vietnamese every where, why? Why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for eternity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
How come only real Khmer with dark skin, skinny with no big land and property willing to go to the frontline to defiance Cambodia land but Chinese Cambodians are hiding and waiting to take the lands and benefit after war, Is that fair to real dark skin Khmer, Dr. Hun Sen???? When the country in trouble only Khmer with dark skin willing to die to protect Cambodian nation but rich fat Cambodians that have big lands, big properties abuse poor dark skin Khmer as stupid after the war over, why Dr. Hun Sen??? Why??? Most Chinese Cambodians are prejudice toward poor dark skin Khmer and they always look down to real Khmer as stupid. They are very hardly let’s dark skin Khmer married their children. Can Dr. Hun Sen please explain to all dark skin military of Cambodia at frontline? Where is the Chinese Cambodians at frontline? Where are they? Is this really fair to poor dark skin Khmer army, Dr. Hun Sen?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big first lady and his beloved Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5, Khmer Girl Ms. Rattana Keo
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent Cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying Cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
CPP are not just corrupted, CPP are extremely corrupt. They are even sell the country such as Kos Trol, Seas, lands, Cambodian people, Cambodian health and well being, all resources in the Cambodia…with lost count. You name it!
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent? The country is getting smaller and smaller and shame by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet and his families, his relatives and friends.
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don't Cambodia goverment transparency explain to cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian army are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian army you are decide the fade of your nation, Cambodian army as well as cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs,lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionairs, millionairs who sell out the country to be rich and make cambodian people suffer everyday as cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol ( Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with planty of natural resources ) in education program?
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