Mizzima News

A Rangoon based Burmese weekly journal, Kumudra, has suspended its publication for two weeks, an official at the Weekly said.

Publication of the weekly journal has been temporarily suspended as the Weekly is awaiting permission from the authorities to allow an addition to the name of the paper, the official said.

While not revealing the additional name that is to be added, the official said, "We have been awaiting permission from the authorities about adding a new name on the old one and after that we will start publishing our journal again."

While the official reason for suspending publication for two weeks, since February 1, seems to be normal in Burma, where authorities have a tight control over the right to print journals, a Rangoon based journal editor said Kumudra has been facing a problem in renewing its license.

An editor of a Rangoon based journal, who wished not to be named, said Kumudra has been facing a problem in renewing its license as the license holder asked for a heftier sum to renew it.

"We heard that they have a problem with the person who owned the journal license but I am not sure of it," said the editor.

In Burma, several Weekly journals run their papers on rented license, as the license to print is mostly given to close relatives or friends of the authorities. Most publishers, who are unable to obtain a license themselves, act on rented license, which is normally leased out for a year, with the price depending on negotiations.

The information, however, could not be independently verified.