Myanmar’s military junta has revoked the licenses of five media outlets in an attempt to curb reports of anti-military protests. Mizzima, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and Seven Day News have been asked to shut down.

The country’s state-run broadcaster MRTV said in a statement that it would not be able to broadcast or write or publish any information using any other media platform or media technology.

Anti-junta protests are intensifying in Myanmar. So far, more than 54 protesters have been killed. The country’s most important trade unions called for a strike last Monday to put pressure on the military.

Due to the strike, shops and factories in the largest city, Yangon, were closed. Trade unions in at least nine sectors, including construction, agriculture and commodity manufacturing, took part in Monday’s strike. Security forces were also deployed in hospitals and universities on the pretext of law enforcement.

The media outlets whose licenses were revoked on Monday night have been reporting on the protests for the past few weeks. They also reported widespread crackdowns on protesters by government security forces.

Members of the army and police raided Myanmar Now’s office on Monday evening before announcing the revocation of the license. The military raided the media and confiscated computers and newsroom data servers and other materials. However, due to the possibility of a coup, the Myanmar Now authorities vacated the office on January 28.

The army has detained 1,800 protesters in Myanmar so far. Several journalists were also among the detainees. In a video released last week, Army members surrounded the home of a DVB journalist Kaung Myat Hlaing. He was seen shouting from the veranda of his house to the neighbors for help. The sound of gunfire was also heard in the background. The DVB later said the journalist had been detained.

Six journalists, including Thein Zaw, a photojournalist for the US news agency AP, have been charged with “breach of public order”. They could face up to three years in prison on charges of publishing anti-coup news.

DVB said they were not surprised by the revocation of the license. They have announced that they will continue broadcasting on satellite television and online. 

“We are concerned about the safety of journalists and staff. But now the whole country has become a citizen journalist during the protests. As a result, the army authorities have no way to stop the flow of information,” said DVB’s Executive Director Aye Chan Naing.