A journalist with a leading newspaper The Myanmar Times was sacked for her report on alleged rape against Muslim women in the Rakhine State. Ms. Fiona MacGregor, who works as the Investigative Editor in the Yangon-based English daily was dismissed three days after her news was published on 27 October. The newspaper management said Ms MacGregor was dismissed as it think her story published with the title “Dozens of rapes reported in Northern Rakhine State” has caused harm to the newspaper’s integrity. The owner of the newspaper U Thein Htun has decided to dismiss Ms MacGregor. U Thein Htun is a banker who owns Htun Foundation Bank. Following the story was published the Spokesperson of the President’s Office U Zaw Htay and a former Information Minister, U Ye Htut, wrote on social media that Ms MacGregor’s report included factual errors. However, they did not say which facts in the report were incorrect. The story mainly quoted civil society actor sources. The paper was also warned to only quote the information published by the Ministry of Information. She has been writing investigative reports mainly on the women’s rights issues in the Southeast Asia including on gender issues in Rakhine State. Ms. MacGregor wrote on her Twitter page that U Zaw Htay and other government officials have declined her request for comment, so her entire story was based on the account from the CSOs. According to the contract Ms. MacGregor signed with the newspaper, it requires the management to give one-month advance notice to terminate the contract. A colleague of Ms MacGregor was also dismissed after he protested against the decision to sack the woman reporter. The paper’s Business Editor Mr. Daniel de Carteret was dismissed on 31 October together with Ms MacGregor for his protest. Ref : Source of BHRN