AUSTRALIAN MEDIA MOGUL ROSS DUNKLEY BARRED FROM LEAVING MYANMAR

 CREDIT EMG

AUSTRALIAN MEDIA MOGUL ROSS DUNKLEY BANNED FRPM LEAVING MYANMAR

 

Ross Dunkley, managing director of Myanmar Consolidated Media (MCM), was banned from leaving Myanmar for which his court case was claimed as reason despite court’s permission in his hand according to The Myanmar Times journal published yesterday.

Dunkley, the Australian media magnate in Myanmar, co-founded MCM with Sonny Swe (Myat Swe) in 2000, and the company is publishing The Myanmar Times, a well-known weekly journal in the country.

Dunkley and Khin Moe Moe, managing director of Swe Sone Media Group and wife of Dr Tin Tun Oo who is the chief executive officer of MCM, have filed reciprocal lawsuit on personal conflicts last January, as the latter took five strangers into the MCM office and the former argued over it.

Dunkley was stopped at the airport by the immigration officers when he arrived there for his business trip to Cambodia and Thailand. This was despite the court’s permission Dunkley received on April 8 as he promised to appear at court on trial.

The immigration officers stopped him at the airport on April 11 failing to give proper reasons. On the following day, Dunkley went to the airport and showed the airport officers the court’s permission and the appeal letter to the respective minister. He did not receive any reply for green light until April 17 yet, even though he sent the original certificates to the Ministry of Immigration and Population in capital Nay Pyi Taw on April 16.

There were public criticisms over the incident as Dunkley was banned from leaving the country despite the court’s permission and some people questioned the country’s reforms towards democracy.

The Myanmar Times quoted a foreign investor’s comment that he was very surprised at the incident. He said that the reason why investors brought their hard-earned money here is because they believe they can come here freely and will be treated fairly in accordance with the country’s laws.

Similar events were common during previous military regime. However, this is the first time such incident has occurred since the civil administration ruled the country, although some journalists from time to time find unnecessary delays at passport application process before their overseas trips.

Dr Tin Tun Oo (right) at the meeting of Myanmar Printers and Publishers Association attended by Information Deputy Minister Ye Htut (left) (Photo – EMG)

Ross Dunkley sentenced to one month in prison

Mizzima – The cofounder of the Myanmar Times, Ross Dunkley, was sentenced to one month imprisonment and fined 100,000 kyat (about US$ 142) on Thursday for violating the Burmese Immigration act.

The Australian journalist will not have to serve the sentence, however, because he was detained for 44 days in Insein Prison following his arrest.

Court sets another hearing for Ross Dunkley for May 12

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The prosecutor in the case of the Australian cofounder of the Myanmar Timestook ill at a hearing on Friday and another hearing was scheduled for May. 12.

In this file photo, Ross Dunkley, the Australian journalist, stands outside a courtroom in Rangoon. Photo: Mizzima

The prosecutor, Khaing Zar Lin, suffered from a hemorrhage and was sent to the Dufferin Women’s Hospital, Aung Than Soe, one of lawyers for journalist Ross Dunkley, who is free on bail, told Mizzima.

On April 27, Khaing Zar Lin and another state prosecutor failed to appear for a scheduled hearing because they were traveling at the time, lawyers said.

The hearing started around 10:30 a.m. and was attended by staff members of the newspaper.

Dunkley has been charged with violating the Emergency Immigration Act,  assaulting a woman, giving her drugs and holding her against her will. The woman earlier had reportedly asked for the charges to be dropped but the judge denied the request.

On March 29, Dunkley was released on 10 million kyat (US $11,600) bail, which was guaranteed by Dr. Tin Tun Oo, the chief executive officer of the newspaper, and Wai Lwin, another colleague. Dunkley, who was imprisoned in Insein Prison for more than one month, resume his duties as managing director of the English language Myanmar Times upon his release.

Dr. Tin Tun Oo on Monday replaced imprisoned Myanmar Times editor Ross Dunkley

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Myanmar Times shareholder Dr. Tin Tun Oo on Monday replaced imprisonedMyanmar Times editor Ross Dunkley, who was arrested on Thursday for violation of the  Burmese Immigration Act, according to sources at the newspaper.

Myanmar Times publisher Ross Dunkley in a file photo taken in 2007.

Police arrested Dunkley on Thursday and took him to Insein Prison the next day. Colleagues at the newspaper said there had been a business dispute involving the owners of the paper.

Sources at the newspaper told Mizzima, “The board of directors made the decision yesterday.

‘I am not authorized to say whether Mr. Dunkley’s shares were sold or not. but I can say Dr. Tin Tun Oo has become the new CEO of the Myanmar Times’, said a staff member.