Press council meets with NLD and Assembly Speaker to discuss media laws
Published on Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:29
NLD's chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi meeting with members of Myanmar Press Council in Nay Pyi Taw on August 13 (Photo - EMG)
Lower House MP Aung San Suu Kyi held a meeting with Myanmar Press Council to discuss the Printing and Publishing Bill approved by parliament in July.
During the meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw on August 13, members of the press council discussed amending the press bill which they say is designed to indirectly control freedom of the press and denies the public the right to news and information.
Suu Kyi, who is chairperson of the National League for Democracy, said her party would study the provisions the press council wanted to amend in the law.
According to the opposition leader, the NLD did not object to the bill in parliament because they did not have the necessary information at the time. She promised to look into the matter as press freedom played an important role in building a democratic nation.
The press council also met with Union Assembly Speaker Thura Shwe Mann in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss the press bill and a council-drafted media bill. The meeting was also attended by Vice-Chairmen Htay Oo and Thura Aye Myint of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party.
Thura Shwe Mann said that he would allow a review of the controversial bill if a MP submitted it for discussion in parliament.
Thura Aye Myint, chairman of the sports, culture and public relations development committee, said that the bill was still under the control of the Ministry of Information. The Press Council and the Information Ministry discussed the two media bills during a meeting in Yangon on Monday but continue to dispute 17 points in the law that journalists say stifles the public right to information.
Despite the press council's proposed amendments to the press bill when it was released by the Ministry of Information, the bill was submitted to the parliament and approved by the Lower House in July.
Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/15/press-council-meets-with-nld-and-assembly-speaker-to-discuss-media-laws/
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