Local weekly journals in Rangoon said they have been prohibited from publishing follow-up news on a murder case in Botahtaung Township.

Even though both the Botahtaung police station and Rangoon division police have confirmed the arrest of the suspect in the killing of a married couple, police warned local journals not to publish additional information concerning the case, an editor of a Rangoon-based weekly told Mizzima.

“They warned us not to report any follow-up news on the case. I asked  them to allow us to report, but they threatened to arrest me,” said the editor, referring to the strict censorship board, which maintains tight control over local publications.

In early April, Aye Aye Win, daughter of a retired military officer, and her husband, Khin Maung Lay, a sailor, were both found dead inside their house in Botahtaung Township.

On 20 April, a police officer in Botahtaung police station told Mizzima they had arrested the murder suspect on 15 April and were interrogating him. Tthe officer declined to provide further details, however, other than to state that the suspect is an "important" person.

Editors and reporters of local weeklies in Rangoon believe the murder suspect could be related to military officials, hence the gag order.

News of the murder was reported in early April by at least three journals – "Weekly Eleven", "7 Day News" and "The Voice".

One local journal said it has submitted its latest issue to the censorship board. It included a follow-up news story on the arrest. The journal's officials are still awaiting word on whether the story would be censored.