Dr Than Tun Aung, the CEO of Daily Eleven and Eleven Media Group and Wai Phyo Editor In-Chief of the Eleven Media Group, have been sued under the telecommunications law by the Yangon Region cabinet for libel, according to U Phyo Min Thein, chief minister of the cabinet, state media reported on 10 November.
The article that led to the legal action was titled, “One year after the election,” published in the 6 November issue of Daily Eleven, which the minister described as tantamount to defaming the regional government.
The 6 November opinion piece written by Dr Than Tun Aung accused a Chief Minister of “rosy relations with corrupt officials” and of wearing a US$100,000 Patek Philippe watch that was described as a gift from a convicted drugs lord, an accusation that has been denied.
The Yangon government also sent a complaint to the News Media Council (Press Council) regarding the editorial published in the Eleven Daily Newspaper. The Press Council replied to the Yangon Government that unless the case already filed with the police was withdrawn, the Council cannot act (as per the Press Council guidelines). So, it has urged the Yangon government to withdraw the case filed with the police so it can act on the complaint.
Both men have been remanded for two weeks and sent to Insein Prison.