Frontier Myanmar strives to be an unbiased and trustworthy voice in Myanmar’s media landscape. For our efforts, we have received recognition and praise from readers both in Myanmar and internationally.
On Wednesday, the news website A Chit Lwin Pyin published an interview it claimed was originally published by Frontier. This “interview”, supposedly between Frontier’s Nay Pyi Taw correspondent Ko Nyan Hlaing Lynn and local celebrity Pan Cel Lo, was neither conducted nor published by Frontier.
The proprietors of the A Chit Lwin Pyin website have instead engaged in a crude effort to undermine the credibility of both Frontier and Pan Cel Lo. This false interview includes quotes designed to insult the residents of Rakhine State in the wake of the recent violence there, in an apparent effort to turn public opinion against both Frontier and Pan Cel Lo. At a profoundly difficult time in this country’s history, where mistrust and suspicion is rife, this is a supremely cynical and destructive act. It is also an act which puts the safety of our reporter and Pan Cel Lo in jeopardy.
We take our commitment to freedom of expression in Myanmar seriously, and we recognise that all rights come with responsibilities. Our commitment does not extend to the irresponsible, defamatory efforts to undermine our reputation by A Chit Lwin Pyin.
Frontier has written to A Chit Lwin Pyin to demand the fake interview is removed from the website and a public retraction is issued, and we will consider further action if these demands are not met.
Support more independent journalism like this. Sign up to be a Frontier member.
