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Burma abolishes media censorship Burma abolishes media censorship
(40 minutes later)
Burma has abolished censorship of the country's media, the information ministry has announced.Burma has abolished censorship of the country's media, the information ministry has announced.
The Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) said that as of Monday, reporters would no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication.The Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) said that as of Monday, reporters would no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication.
Burma has long kept a tight control over all aspects of its media.Burma has long kept a tight control over all aspects of its media.
But the civilian government has been gradually easing restrictions since taking office last year.But the civilian government has been gradually easing restrictions since taking office last year.
Journalists in Burma, also known as Myanmar, had already been given guidelines allowing them to write about controversial social and political topics, something that would have been unthinkable under the previous military rule. "Censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years and two weeks later," Tint Swe, head of the PSRD, told AFP news agency on Monday.
Tint Swe, head of the PSRD, said Burmese publications would no longer have to send stories to the censorship board.
"Censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years and two weeks later," he told AFP news agency.
But a ministry official told AFP films would still be subject to censorship.But a ministry official told AFP films would still be subject to censorship.
A senior editor at a magazine in Rangoon told AFP: "This is a great day for all journalists in Myanmar, who have laboured under these odious restrictions for far too many years." The agency quoted an unnamed editor at a magazine in Rangoon as saying: "This is a great day for all journalists in Myanmar, who have laboured under these odious restrictions for far too many years."
"It is also another encouraging example of the progress that the country is making under [President] Thein Sein's government," said the editor, who declined to be named. Journalists in Burma, also known as Myanmar, had already been given guidelines allowing them to write about controversial social and political topics, something that would have been unthinkable under the previous military rule.
Some 300 newspapers and magazines covering less sensitive issues had also be given permission to print without prior censorship and restrictions were lifted on 30,000 internet sites, allowing users unrestricted access to political content for the first time.
In October last year, Mr Swe said censorship should be abolished as it was incompatible with democratic practices, while warning that all publications should accept the responsibilities that go with press freedom.
Some journalists expressed concerns that they could still find themselves on the wrong side of the law if the government finds fault with their work after publication.