Myanmar minister says 'there is no torture' of protesters

Only state-run media report 'true' facts, Maung Maung Ohn claims

In an online interview on Nov. 16, Myanmar Information Minister Maung Maung Ohn, claimed pro-democracy protesters are not subject to torture, calling such reports "fake news." (Source photo by AP)

YUICHI NITTA, Nikkei staff writer

November 19, 2021 18:00 JST

YANGON -- Myanmar's information minister, Maung Maung Ohn, has denied numerous media reports that the country's military-led government is torturing detained protesters, highlighting the regime's distrust of independent news media, including foreign journalists.

"There is no torture," said Maung Maung Ohn, who was appointed by the military in August, in an interview on Tuesday with Nikkei Asia. "Only news reported by state-owned media is true."