Minister blames lack of media law for jailing of journalists

Minister blames lack of media law for jailing of journalists

By Ye Mon   |   Wednesday, 07 May 2014

The recent prosecution of five journalists is "bad" for the media industry and occurred because Myanmar still lacks proper media laws, Minister for Information U Aung Kyi says.

U Kyaw Min Swe on World Press Freedom Day (Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times

Four reporters from Unity journal, along with the paper's chief executive officer, are on trial for allegedly revealing state secrets, while a Democratic Voice of Burma reporter recently received a one-year jail term for trespassing.

But U Aung Kyi said his ministry had not been involved in the decision to charge the journalists and he hoped prosecution could be avoided in future cases. He also said those cases already before the courts would be decided fairly in line with the existing laws.

"The aggrieved peoples have prosecuted [the journalists] according to their rights and authority," he said after a ceremony to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3.

"In the future, we will work together [to avoid criminal charges] after the release of the media law [by-law]."

Enacted in March, the Media Law specifies a process for dispute resolution that must be undertaken before cases can reach the courts. The law is not yet in effect because by-laws have not been introduced, and U Aung Kyi said only that the ministry hopes to enact them this year.

U Aung Kyi's comments at the ceremony were criticised by U Toe Zaw Latt, the DVB bureau chief for Myanmar.

"I want to know how the court's decision on our reporter was fair," he said. "Does he even know about the DVB reporter's case?

"I can't accept what the minister said – it is meaningless."

Ma Lwin Lwin Myint, the wife of Unity journal reporter U Lu Maw Naing, said she was "disappointed" by the minister's speech.

"What he said is very different from how the court has acted," she said.

But U Kyaw Min Swe, secretary of the Interim Press Council, said the key to avoiding more lawsuits against journalists in the future was improving the legal knowledge of those working in the media sector.

He said journalists who have been prosecuted are facing charges filed under the Penal Code that in some cases could have been avoided.

"For example, when going to an office for an interview, it is important to ensure journalists adopt appropriate facial expressions, dress and general behaviour," he said.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2014/05/07/minister-blames-lack-of-media-law-for-jailing-of-journalists/