EMG 26.APRIL 2013
Multiple users could have been using the log-in and password of Dr. Seik Phwar, a blogger who is being investigated by an independent commission for criticizing the Parliament, according to the commission’s report.
However, the allegations are only mentioned with references in the analysis report that has not been made public yet.
Earlier this year, Dr Seik Phwar was criticized by Parliament members for writing a commentary, “Above the Law”, in which the writer accused the country’s lawmakers of overstepping their boundary for voting to make changes to the Constitutional Tribunal Law.
Dr Soe Yin, the upper house representative for Kamaryut Township Constituency submitted the “urgent” proposal on January 17 to form a commission to investigate the identity of the Dr Seik Phwar.
Dr Soe Yin said the article could “cause misunderstanding among citizens and the international community about the Parliament’s decision”.
According to the analysis, Dr Khin Maung Nyo (Economics) confessed that he published the article in a news journal where he works as its chief editor.
The commission views that Dr Khin Maung Nyo has the responsibility to reveal the identity of Dr Seik Phwar and only he is responsible for the blogger’s writings.
Although legal action can be taken against Dr Khin Maung Nyo, the Parliament should only take the action of giving out warnings and asking for formal apology “to show their generosity”, the commission said.
The analysis report also said the commission did a systematic investigation on Dr Seik Phwar as the article was written to create misunderstandings between the Parliament carrying out the legislation duty and the government carrying out the executive duty.
Union Assembly deputy speaker Mya Nyein and Upper House deputy speaker Nanda Kyaw Swar serve as chairman and vice chairman of the 15-member commission that was formed on February 8.
Dr Myat Nyarna Soe, Lower House representative and member of the commission, said the commission submitted the report to the Union Assembly speaker on the last day of the 6th regular Parliament session.
According to him, the commission plans to use the method of asking for formal apology to the Parliament after the author’s identity has been revealed just as a minister has done before.
The commission investigated officials from the President Office, the Ministry of Information, military IT experts, media, director generals, and many popular people in Myanmar, reports said.
“I went to Nay Pyi Taw for the interview with the investigation commission. I gave them the information that I know. In my reply, I told them [the names of] the people from the Ministry of Information who could have been involved with this issue. Regarding my reply, the department officials and representatives themselves told me who they were. They knew more, of course,” said Wai Phyo, chief editor of the Weekly Eleven news journal.
“All the 15 members know [who they are]. There is a person who took responsibility by saying that he is Dr Seik Phwar. We haven’t received permission to reveal his name. He is someone from your media industry,” said Hla Swe, lower house representative and member of the commission.
On Tuesday’s issue of The Voice Daily, the commission’s chairman Mya Nyein was quoted as saying that the identity of Dr Seik Phwar has been revealed as someone who has written articles for The Street View news journal where Dr Khin Maung Nyo (Economics) works at its chief editor.
However, Dr Seik Phwar’s article was not published in The Street View new journal, but in Smart News journal, run by the Ministry of Information, where Dr Khin Maung Nyo used to work as chief editor.
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