UPDATED

A quasi-government media  organisation expressed concern over the future of press freedom in Myanmar following the military takeover, warning that further restrictions on the media can be expected.

The public right of access to information as well as the future of news organisations in Myanmar has become uncertain after the Tatmadaw declared the state of emergency on February 1, said U Kyaw Myint, member of Myanmar Press Council (MPC).

Several free-to-air television channels Mizzima, DVB, One News channel, are no longer on air. The military also banned the airing of foreign news television channels like NHK, BBC and CNN.

However, internet access has been restored in most parts of the country after a two-day shutdown, as well as in Rakhine State.

"After the Tatmadaw's actions, we can't say if a literary censorship board will be reformed,” U Kyaw Myint said. “We will stand against any form of reformation of literary censorship.”

“It will surely lead to the cessation of daily newspapers in the country. The future of newspapers is already uncertain now," he added.

He said the current political crisis can be considered a reversal of the Myanmar democratic transition, which the Tatmadaw itself initiated in 2009 following the economic and political reforms initiated by the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party. 

"The country's future has become quite uncertain with the democratic process reversed,” U Kyaw Myint said. 

But he conceded that it is still too early to predict the future of media freedom in the country.

"It's still early to say if the future of the news has become uncertain,” he said. “But certain restrictions on the media are expected and we all have seen such hints. For our part, we've decided to stand against and protect existing media rights."

Meanwhile, the Myanmar Times understands that government-run newspapers The Mirror and the Global New Light of Myanmar are planning to stop publishing in order to protest the military government. - Translated