Myanmar ends direct media censorship
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MYANMAR abolished direct media censorship yesterday, the latest dramatic reform by its government, but journalists face other restrictions, including a ban on private daily newspapers.
Under the new rules, journalists no longer have to submit reports to state censors before publication, ending a practice strictly enforced during nearly half a century of military rule that ended in March last year.
Previously, every song, book, cartoon, news report and planned piece of art required approval by teams of censors rooting out political messages and criticisms of the government.
Changes have gathered steam since June last year when the Ministry of Information decided to allow about half of Myanmar's privately run weekly journals and monthly magazines to publish without submitting page proofs to a censorship board in advance.
Yesterday, restrictions were lifted on the remaining 80 political and six religious journals, said Tint Swe, head of the press censorship board at the Ministry of Information.
Over the past year, Myanmar, also known as Burma, has introduced the most sweeping reforms in the country since a 1962 military coup. A new government has allowed elections, eased rules on protests and freed dissidents among other changes.
Papers have since been testing the boundaries, often putting opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on front pages and giving coverage to government critics. Editors say this was unthinkable before the middle of last year.
But significant restrictions remain in place. Privately run daily newspapers are still not permitted.
Asked about the chance of ending a ban on private dailies, Tint Swe said: "We can say it has become closer than before. It could happen after enacting the necessary media law."
Under the new rules, journalists no longer have to submit reports to state censors before publication, ending a practice strictly enforced during nearly half a century of military rule that ended in March last year.
Previously, every song, book, cartoon, news report and planned piece of art required approval by teams of censors rooting out political messages and criticisms of the government.
Changes have gathered steam since June last year when the Ministry of Information decided to allow about half of Myanmar's privately run weekly journals and monthly magazines to publish without submitting page proofs to a censorship board in advance.
Yesterday, restrictions were lifted on the remaining 80 political and six religious journals, said Tint Swe, head of the press censorship board at the Ministry of Information.
Over the past year, Myanmar, also known as Burma, has introduced the most sweeping reforms in the country since a 1962 military coup. A new government has allowed elections, eased rules on protests and freed dissidents among other changes.
Papers have since been testing the boundaries, often putting opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on front pages and giving coverage to government critics. Editors say this was unthinkable before the middle of last year.
But significant restrictions remain in place. Privately run daily newspapers are still not permitted.
Asked about the chance of ending a ban on private dailies, Tint Swe said: "We can say it has become closer than before. It could happen after enacting the necessary media law."
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