Yangon: The Myanmar government on Tuesday revoked the license of a publishing house for selling a popular foreign book about the military’s brutal repression of the Rohingya minority, state media reported.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar during the 2017 military crackdown, bringing with them tragic reports of murder, rape and arson.
In March, the United States officially declared that violence against the Rohingya was tantamount to genocide, saying there was clear evidence that it was trying to “destroy” the group.
State-backed Myanmar Allin newspaper has announced that the Lwin Oo Publishing House’s license has been revoked after it was discovered that Irish-Australian academic Ronan Lee was offering to sell “Myanmar’s Rohingya genocide” online.
According to the author’s website, the book explores Rohingya history and identity, documenting historical marginalization and abuses against the community.
It relies on extensive Rohingya testimony and historical research, and has been praised by foreign commentators on Myanmar and the Rohingya.
Myanmar’s Alin statement said the book’s offer for sale prohibits expressions that “violate the Printing and Printing Act” and cause “racial and cultural violence between ethnic groups.”