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| Burma ends advance press censorship | Burma ends advance press censorship |
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| Burma's government says it is abolishing media censorship, marking the most dramatic move yet towards allowing freedom of expression in the south-east Asian nation. | Burma's government says it is abolishing media censorship, marking the most dramatic move yet towards allowing freedom of expression in the south-east Asian nation. |
| Under the new rules, journalists will no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication as they have for the past 50 years. | Under the new rules, journalists will no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication as they have for the past 50 years. |
| The move was cautiously welcomed by Burmese journalists as another sign of openness following the release of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in November 2010. | The move was cautiously welcomed by Burmese journalists as another sign of openness following the release of the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in November 2010. |
| But deep concerns remain about restrictive press laws that are still in place and allow the authorities to crack down on journalists and even close publications deemed a threat to national security. | But deep concerns remain about restrictive press laws that are still in place and allow the authorities to crack down on journalists and even close publications deemed a threat to national security. |
| Ye Naing Moe, who has worked as a journalist in Rangoon for 13 years, said the move made him feel hopeful for the future but that the battle was not yet won. "It is the beginning of a new age with new challenges and threats ahead," he warned. | Ye Naing Moe, who has worked as a journalist in Rangoon for 13 years, said the move made him feel hopeful for the future but that the battle was not yet won. "It is the beginning of a new age with new challenges and threats ahead," he warned. |
| Matthew F Smith, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: "It's a positive development but too early to get enthusiastic. There is still an enormous amount of work to do to ensure press freedoms are protected. The same people who oversaw the jailing of journalists remain in power today. | Matthew F Smith, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: "It's a positive development but too early to get enthusiastic. There is still an enormous amount of work to do to ensure press freedoms are protected. The same people who oversaw the jailing of journalists remain in power today. |
| "This is an important announcement but there will still be a lot of pressure on journalists to self-censor and there is still a risk that journalists will be targeted by the authorities for probing sensitive issues." | "This is an important announcement but there will still be a lot of pressure on journalists to self-censor and there is still a risk that journalists will be targeted by the authorities for probing sensitive issues." |
| Burma's reporters had long been regarded as among the most restricted in the world. But President Thein Sein's reformist government has significantly relaxed media controls over the last year, allowing reporters to print material that would have been unthinkable during the era of absolute military rule – such as photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi when she was under house arrest in Rangoon. | Burma's reporters had long been regarded as among the most restricted in the world. But President Thein Sein's reformist government has significantly relaxed media controls over the last year, allowing reporters to print material that would have been unthinkable during the era of absolute military rule – such as photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi when she was under house arrest in Rangoon. |
| The information ministry, which has long controlled what can be printed, made the announcement on its website on Monday. | The information ministry, which has long controlled what can be printed, made the announcement on its website on Monday. |
| Contrary to expectation, the censor board will not be abolished. Monday's announcement indicated it will retain the powers it has always had to suspend publications or revoking publishing licences if it deems publishing rules are violated. | Contrary to expectation, the censor board will not be abolished. Monday's announcement indicated it will retain the powers it has always had to suspend publications or revoking publishing licences if it deems publishing rules are violated. |
| Nyein Nyein Naing, an editor from the 7 Day News Journal who attended Monday's meeting, said journalists will still have to submit their articles to the censor board. But now, she said, they will be required to do so after publication, apparently to allow the government to determine whether any publishing laws are violated. | Nyein Nyein Naing, an editor from the 7 Day News Journal who attended Monday's meeting, said journalists will still have to submit their articles to the censor board. But now, she said, they will be required to do so after publication, apparently to allow the government to determine whether any publishing laws are violated. |
| Those laws, in place since a military coup in 1962, include edicts prohibiting journalists from writing articles that could threaten peace and stability, oppose the constitution or insult ethnic groups. Critics say some laws are open to interpretation and give the government enormous power to silence dissent. They have been used repeatedly in recent years to jail members of the press. | Those laws, in place since a military coup in 1962, include edicts prohibiting journalists from writing articles that could threaten peace and stability, oppose the constitution or insult ethnic groups. Critics say some laws are open to interpretation and give the government enormous power to silence dissent. They have been used repeatedly in recent years to jail members of the press. |
| Nyein Nyein Naing welcomed the government announcement, but she added: "We have to be very cautious as [the state censor board] will keep monitoring us." | Nyein Nyein Naing welcomed the government announcement, but she added: "We have to be very cautious as [the state censor board] will keep monitoring us." |
| It was not immediately clear to what degree continued government scrutiny could lead to self-censorship. Some topics remain highly sensitive, such as corruption and alleged abuses committed by army officers during the previous ruling junta. Overzealous authorities could use the threat of prosecution to prevent articles from being published or exact harsh punishments for material they dislike. | It was not immediately clear to what degree continued government scrutiny could lead to self-censorship. Some topics remain highly sensitive, such as corruption and alleged abuses committed by army officers during the previous ruling junta. Overzealous authorities could use the threat of prosecution to prevent articles from being published or exact harsh punishments for material they dislike. |
| As recently as 11 June, the government's press scrutiny and registration department ordered the suspension of a magazine called Snapshot. According to the Irrawaddy report, Snapshot had published a photo of a woman who was raped and murdered in Arakan State, igniting a wave of violence in the remote region of western Burma. | As recently as 11 June, the government's press scrutiny and registration department ordered the suspension of a magazine called Snapshot. According to the Irrawaddy report, Snapshot had published a photo of a woman who was raped and murdered in Arakan State, igniting a wave of violence in the remote region of western Burma. |
| Late last month, the censor board again flexed its muscles by ordering the suspension of two weekly magazines, the Voice Weekly and Envoy, for speculating on a still-anticipated cabinet reshuffle. Those punishments have since been lifted, and the two magazines are due to begin publishing again on 18 August. | Late last month, the censor board again flexed its muscles by ordering the suspension of two weekly magazines, the Voice Weekly and Envoy, for speculating on a still-anticipated cabinet reshuffle. Those punishments have since been lifted, and the two magazines are due to begin publishing again on 18 August. |
| Shawn Crispin, the Committee to Protect Journalists' south-east Asia representative in Bangkok, said that "if the government is sincere in ending pre-publication censorship, it would represent a significant step forward for press freedom in Burma". | Shawn Crispin, the Committee to Protect Journalists' south-east Asia representative in Bangkok, said that "if the government is sincere in ending pre-publication censorship, it would represent a significant step forward for press freedom in Burma". |
| However, he added that if press laws were not also reformed, "then all of these promises can be easily rolled back if they feel a free press threatens government security". | However, he added that if press laws were not also reformed, "then all of these promises can be easily rolled back if they feel a free press threatens government security". |
| "It is very encouraging for a journalist like me who has been struggling with this pre-press censorship for years," said Ye Naing Moe, a Burmese journalist who began his career working for an illegal weekly magazine during the 1988 uprising. | "It is very encouraging for a journalist like me who has been struggling with this pre-press censorship for years," said Ye Naing Moe, a Burmese journalist who began his career working for an illegal weekly magazine during the 1988 uprising. |
| He added: "I cordially welcome this announcement and feel positive for the future, but it does not mean I ignore the new types of challenges and battles lying ahead. At least now we just have left behind the most terrible way of controlling freedom of expression in [our] history." | He added: "I cordially welcome this announcement and feel positive for the future, but it does not mean I ignore the new types of challenges and battles lying ahead. At least now we just have left behind the most terrible way of controlling freedom of expression in [our] history." |
| He said recent protests by young journalists demanding the right to publish freely may have prompted the move – but that a happy ending was not guaranteed after such a long spell of media oppression. "It's not a black and white situation. It is the beginning of a new age with new challenges and threats ahead. There are still many people who are not happy with the reforms." | He said recent protests by young journalists demanding the right to publish freely may have prompted the move – but that a happy ending was not guaranteed after such a long spell of media oppression. "It's not a black and white situation. It is the beginning of a new age with new challenges and threats ahead. There are still many people who are not happy with the reforms." |
| Dr Tint Swe, a former politician from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party who has been in exile in Delhi for 20 years, said Burma's military rulers were terrified of a popular uprising like those seen in the Middle East. "They are afraid of an Arab spring," he said, adding that the decision was another attempt to persuade the US in particular to drop sanctions against Burma. | Dr Tint Swe, a former politician from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party who has been in exile in Delhi for 20 years, said Burma's military rulers were terrified of a popular uprising like those seen in the Middle East. "They are afraid of an Arab spring," he said, adding that the decision was another attempt to persuade the US in particular to drop sanctions against Burma. |
| Plus, he said, a new net-savvy generation in Burma was now able to read foreign news rather than just the two state-owned propaganda sheets, the English-language New Light of Myanmar and the Burmese-language Mirror. "A new generation is being exposed to the outside world – the generals' children are now on a different wavelength from their parents," said Swe. | Plus, he said, a new net-savvy generation in Burma was now able to read foreign news rather than just the two state-owned propaganda sheets, the English-language New Light of Myanmar and the Burmese-language Mirror. "A new generation is being exposed to the outside world – the generals' children are now on a different wavelength from their parents," said Swe. |
| Until recently, editions of New Light of Myanmar included a section entitled "People's desire" which listed a string of instructions for Burma's citizens. These included: "oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views"; " oppose those trying to jeopardise stability of the state and progress of the nation"; "oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the state" and "crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy". | Until recently, editions of New Light of Myanmar included a section entitled "People's desire" which listed a string of instructions for Burma's citizens. These included: "oppose those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding negative views"; " oppose those trying to jeopardise stability of the state and progress of the nation"; "oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of the state" and "crush all internal and external destructive elements as the common enemy". |
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