Myanmar media execs in court

Two Myanmar media executives appeared in court yesterday charged with defamation, in a case that has crystallised fears for press freedom under the country's new democratic government.

The CEO of Eleven Media Group, Than Htut Aung, and the chief editor of one of its papers, Wai Phyo, appeared in court handcuffed together after two weeks awaiting trial.

The pair were charged with defamation under Myanmar's controversial telecommunications law, which was frequently used by the former quasi-military government to punish critics.

A high-profile member of Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD party brought the charges over a column accusing him of receiving a $100,000 watch from a businessman, who later won plum contracts.

Despite hopes the Nobel laureate's government would usher in a new era of free expression, several people have been prosecuted for defamation since her party took over in late March.

The case comes as concerns deepen over freedom of expression under Myanmar's new leadership.

Freedoms have increased under Suu Kyi but monitors say many outlets still exercise self-censorship in fear of the law.

Several people have been prosecuted for defamation since her party took over in late March, including one man sentenced to jail for calling the president "crazy" on Facebook.

Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) this week slammed the prosecution of the Eleven Media executives, and called for the legislation to be scrapped.