Controversy over press law

Controversy over press law

By Naw Say Phaw Waa   |   Monday, 15 July 2013

The Pyithu Hluttaw's approval of the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Bill has sparked a backlash among journalists and editors, who argue that the law in its current form would potentially restrict press freedom.

An employee monitors the printing of newspapers at a printing house in Yangon in March. Photo: AFP

The draft was approved by lower house MPs on July 4, a move the Myanmar Journalists Network immediately described as "a step backwards" for the media.

Network secretary U Myint Kyaw told The Myanmar Times that the Ministry of Information had ignored most of the recommendations made by the Interim Press Council.

"The press council recommended 28 changes and 23 of these were not included in the version sent to parliament," he said.

""Because of this, it is hard to still look at the law constructively."

On July 7, the press council also issued a statement condemning the bill. Council member U Thiha Saw said the group sent letters to the hluttaws, President's Office and political parties outlining its reasons for opposing the bill.

"Unless there is change all of the members from the press council are ready to resign. However we will try hard in different ways to avoid that outcome," he said.

Press council members accused the ministry of backtracking on a promise – which they say they have in writing from Deputy Minister for Information U Ye Htut – to submit the ministry's bill and another drafted by the press council at the same time.

Member U Kyaw Min Swe said the council had met ministry officials, including Minister for Information U Aung Kyi, four times to discuss the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Bill. He said that few of their recommendations had been acted on and accused the ministry of breaking "an agreement between gentlemen".

Press council member U Zaw Thet Htwe said following the outcry Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had requested a copy of the draft press law, which the council sent to her on July 9.

State media responded to the criticism by publishing what it said was a transcript of the meeting between U Aung Kyi and four members of the press council, at which the minister said the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Bill was different from the Press Bill that the council has drafted. He said the ministry's law represents all 5000 publishers in Myanmar, while the council's covers only the 5 to 10 percent who are in the journalism field. He said that it was not possible "to make a u-turn" on the law.

If a "new draft law was submitted, it is unlikely that the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will accept it now. So, I think it would be better to place more emphasis on the part of amending it," he was quoted as saying in the state-run New Light of Myanmar on July 12.

"We want to see journalists enjoying their rights under the press law when we are in office," he said.

He said the press law could address issues, such as freedom of information, that are not included in the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Bill.

"It is impossible to add it in the Printing and Publishing Law as the law covers a flood of matters related to publication, not matters of journalism only," he said.

On the restrictions in the draft publishing law, U Aung Kyi indicated they were necessary to control publications that criticise Buddhism.

He said senior monks "are deeply unhappy about the situation in which a lot of banned books ... endangering the teachings of Buddha are easily available on the streets".

But Burma News International, an organisation of more than 10 ethnic media news outlets, said the draft law "is enforcing the restrictions upon Myanmar media development".

"Under this law, the Ministry of Information would maintain the authority to issue publication licences as well as revoke or terminate licences for those who violate rules proposed in the bill," it said in a statement.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/16/controversy-over-press-law-2/