The Burmese Ministry of Information censored an 80-page article about prominent Burmese journalist Oway U Nyo Mya in Padaukpwinthit' magazine.

The story on U Nyo Mya, who was also editor of 'Oway' magazine-the mouthpiece of the Students' Union during Burma's anti-colonial struggle-was supposed to be the cover story of the 'Padaukpwinthit' magazine's July issue.

U Nyo Mya was also an intimate friend of Burma's independence hero General (Bogyoke) Aung San. The cover story discusses the journalist's involvement in the student movement, his life and views, and testimonies from his contemporaries and politicians.

"This month's issue of the magazine had over 200 pages, of which more than 80 were censored. The authorities said that these pages are now being suspended from publication and might be allowed to be published at the end of the year," said a magazine editor who is close to the Burmese literary circle and who wished not to be named.

"The censored materials include U Nyo Mya's famous article entitled 'Hell Hound at Large,' accounts about his literary and political life, his association with Bogyoke Aung San who had been his roommate, and his contemporaries' views and opinions of him," he added.

The authorities gave no reason to the magazine as to why it censored the cover story but the literary circle speculated that it was linked to the forthcoming anniversary of the popular uprising on August 8.

"The 'Oway' magazine was the mouthpiece of the Students' Union and student movement at the time. The government usually censors such articles from time to time. The anniversary of the 88 Uprising will be held next month," the veteran magazine editor who wished to remain anonymous said.

The censor board only informed the magazine about the decision to censor the article after a wait of over a month. The magazine had to replace the cover story with an article on writer 'Bamaw Tin Aung.'

'Padaukpwinthit' magazine is not new to censorship. The government ordered the removal of a cover story on renowned writer, literary guru and architect of domestic peace, Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, in one of its 2007 issues.

Though the magazine was first published in 1991, it had managed to publish only 31 issues as of this year.