The Burmese Ministry of Information censored an 80-page article
about prominent Burmese journalist Oway U Nyo Mya in
Padaukpwinthit' magazine.

The story on U Nyo Mya, who was also editor of 'Oway' magazine-the
mouthpiece of the Students' Union during Burma's anti-colonial
struggle-was supposed to be the cover story of the 'Padaukpwinthit'
magazine's July issue.

U Nyo Mya was also an intimate friend of Burma's independence hero
General (Bogyoke) Aung San. The cover story discusses the
journalist's involvement in the student movement, his life and
views, and testimonies from his contemporaries and politicians.

"This month's issue of the magazine had over 200 pages, of which
more than 80 were censored. The authorities said that these pages
are now being suspended from publication and might be allowed to be
published at the end of the year," said a magazine editor who is
close to the Burmese literary circle and who wished not to be named.

"The censored materials include U Nyo Mya's famous article entitled
'Hell Hound at Large,' accounts about his literary and political
life, his association with Bogyoke Aung San who had been his
roommate, and his contemporaries' views and opinions of him," he
added.

The authorities gave no reason to the magazine as to why it
censored the cover story but the literary circle speculated that it
was linked to the forthcoming anniversary of the popular uprising
on August 8.

"The 'Oway' magazine was the mouthpiece of the Students' Union and
student movement at the time. The government usually censors such
articles from time to time. The anniversary of the 88 Uprising will
be held next month," the veteran magazine editor who wished to
remain anonymous said.

The censor board only informed the magazine about the decision to
censor the article after a wait of over a month. The magazine had
to replace the cover story with an article on writer 'Bamaw Tin
Aung.'

'Padaukpwinthit' magazine is not new to censorship. The government
ordered the removal of a cover story on renowned writer, literary
guru and architect of domestic peace, Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, in one
of its 2007 issues.

Though the magazine was first published in 1991, it had managed to
publish only 31 issues as of this year.