The Mawlamyine-based Mon News Agency (MNA), announced that it had permanently shut down its operations on 5 October.

In a statement the agency’s founder said: “We regret to inform all of our cherished followers that as of right now the Mon News Agency has stopped production.”

He added: “I want to apologise to the readers on behalf of the Mon News Agency for being unable to continue, as we have long stood up for the rights of our readers to receive information.”

The statement said that the closing down of the news agency had already been discussed with the relevant editors, reporters, and office employees and the Mon News Agency will not publish any further material, either in print, on their website, or on social media.

Mon News Agency was opened in 2003 and obtained a Ministry of Information News Agency Licence the same year. It was set up to report on local news in Mon State, represent ethnic communities and voices and to serve the population of Mon State.

Mizzima has reached out to the Mon News Agency editor and is still awaiting a reply.

Following the February 2021 coup, in March 2021 the junta revoked the media licences of independent news organisations, including Myanmar Now, 7 Day News, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Khit Thit Media, and Mizzima. They have been forbidden from publishing or broadcasting in the country. Other local media organisations have been severely restricted in what they can say and publish.