Summary:

In the past, entire newspapers have been shut because of their reports and many reporters have been jailed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19315806

[20 August 2012] - Burma has abolished pre-publication 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.

However, strict laws remain in place which could see journalists punished for what they have written.

Burma has kept tight control over all aspects of its media for some 50 years.

But the civilian government has been gradually easing restrictions since taking office last year.

"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.

"Any publication inside the country will not have to get prior permission from us before they are published.

"From now on, our department will just carry out registering publications for keeping them at the national archives and issuing a license to printers and publishers," he said.

A ministry official told AFP films would still be subject to censorship. 

Internet rules relaxed

The head of the BBC's Burmese Service, Tin Htar Shwe, says journalists in Burma are cautiously optimistic about the reforms, but that the end of the law does not necessarily mean the end of the censorship altogether.

Many laws still exist under which journalists can be punished for writing material which angers or offends the government, she says.

Wai Phyo, editor of the Weekly Eleven journal, told Reuters the move was "a big improvement on the past", but that editors would now be under increasing pressure to ensure their publications remained legal.

In the past, entire newspapers have been shut because of their reports and many reporters have been jailed. 

But in recent months, journalists had been given guidelines allowing them to write about controversial topics, something that would have been unthinkable under the previous military rule.

Some 300 newspapers and magazines covering less sensitive issues had already been 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. 

Further Information: 

• INTERNET FREEDOM: European Parliament rejects Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (6 July 2012) 
• FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: Google reports 'alarming' rise in Internet censorship by governments (18 June 2012) 
• AZERBAIJAN: Internet demonised to keep citizens offline (14 May 2012) 
• INTERNET FREEDOM: 'Enemies of the Internet' in Reporters Without Borders study (13 March 2012) 
• MEDIA: Ethical journalism - Self-regulation protects the independence of media (8 November 2011) 
• PRESS FREEDOM: Celebrating World Press Freedom Day 2011 (May 2011)
• CRIN's Media Toolkit
• Guide for journalists reporting on cases involving children
• Guide to using images of children in the media
• Guide to investigative reporting

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Last updated 21/08/2012 11:20:38

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