MCD seals office of Burmese monthly

New Delhi, Apr 17 (UNI) As part of its drive to seal commercial establishments in residential areas, the MCD today sealed the Delhi office of Mizzima, a Burmese monthly journal.

However, Mizzima News Chief Editor Sow Myint claimed that the it is an independent and non-profit organisation and does not engage in any commercial activity.

''Besides the monthly journal and also distributes free literature throughout the Burmese refugee community in India and abroad,'' he clarified.

He said the incident had raised a ''serious question on the commitment of the authorities towards freedom of press''.

Several Mizzima donors, including South East Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) and National Endowment for Democracy urged the authority to reopen the office.

Mizzima, which among other issues reports on human rights violations in Burma, was founded and run by exiled Burmese journalists.

UNI