Four private daily newspapers were published on Monday in Myanmar – the Voice Daily, Golden Fresh Land, the Union Daily, and San Daw Chien – for the first time since the 1906s.

Phoe Thauk Kyar, the editor of Golden Fresh Land, told Mizzima that launch of private newspapers would help to protect citizens’ rights.

“These days, it had become so hard to find the quality editors and reporters,” he said. “To be honest , we still do not have enough resources and assets to publish the newspaper and best we can.” Phoe Thauk Kyar said that Golden Fresh Land now had 36 staffers but needs double the number to work on long-term basis. Kyaw Min Swe of the Voice Daily said that the newcomers are going to cover all the major issues, including news from around the world.

The Myanmar government has issued 16 licenses – one of which was awarded to Mizzima – while other applications are pending. Maung Hla, a private citizen who says he likes to buy a newspaper every morning, told Mizzima on Monday that readers were now spoilt for choice.

“Before we had only the Myanmar Ahlin [Light of Myanmar] and The Mirror,” he said. “Now we will have a choice of private newspapers. Not only that, but they look nice and are good quality.”

The first editions of Myanmar’s private newspapers were selling at newsstands on Monday and Tuesday for just 200 to 300 kyat per copy (US $0.23 – 0.35).