(Mizzima/IFEX) – The following is a 21 March 2007statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX: Burma’s Censorship Board suspends local magazine The February issue of the monthly publication, “Padauk Pwint Thit”, a Burmese-language magazine, was suspended without any reason cited by Burma’s Censorship Board, sources from Rangoon’s literati said. The edition in question, […]
(Mizzima/IFEX) – The following is a 21 March 2007statement from Mizzima News, an interim member of IFEX:
Burma’s Censorship Board suspends local magazine
The February issue of the monthly publication, “Padauk Pwint Thit”, a Burmese-language magazine, was suspended without any reason cited by Burma’s Censorship Board, sources from Rangoon’s literati said.
The edition in question, whose cover featured a portrait of veteran Burmese litterateur Thakhin Ko Daw Hmine, was barred from being published although permission had been obtained in February for its cover page and the contents cleared by the scrutiny board.
“The authorities told us to wait for a while because it has been submitted to the head office (Information Ministry). They told us that they would allow publication of the magazine. And we will wait till the end of March. We hope to release our magazine within this month. We would like to publish this issue,” a representative of the magazine house said.
Some Rangoon-based journal editors criticized the suspension and said the February issue of the magazine has been pushed back to March because of the painting of Thakhin Ko Daw Hmine on the cover. Loved and respected by the Burmese literary fraternity for his writings, the late writer was on the list of the censorship board. His works were banned for three decades by the junta.
“Padauk Pwint Thit” monthly magazine is planning future special issues on Burmese literary figures, including Thakin Ko Daw Hmine, Zaw Gi and Min Thu Wun, and their poems, art and writings.
Meanwhile, Rangoon local journals and magazine publishing houses were facing delays in publication because of mindless censorship, electricity shortage and production problems.
Burmese readers country-wide have been querying the delay in the release of “Padauk Pwint Thit” magazine and are waiting for its release, the publication house said.
“Our readers want to know the facts. And we have told them the process is on and we are waiting for its distribution. The readers are concerned with the delay,” said the publication house.
All Burmese journals and magazines have to follow a number of steps in keeping with the censorship board’s orders. The first step is asking for clearance from the censorship board for the cover. The second is to submit the cover with the journal or magazine’s first draft. The last step is submission of the finalized version before asking for a distribution permit from the board.
“Due to circumstances, we could only release 10 issues last year. Presently we are waiting for a permit to distribute our publication,” the publication house said.
