Myanmar (formerly Burma)

(WiPC/IFEX) ? WiPC is seriously concerned about the well-being of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and writer, who was taken into “protective custody” on 1 June 2003 following clashes between NLD and pro-government supporters. Aung San Suu Kyi is reported to have been injured during the clashes, […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: THE BURMESE MILITARY JUNTA DEMONSTRATES CONTEMPT FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BY DETAINING PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER, DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI ARTICLE 19 condemns the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the arrest of a number of her supporters. Aung San Suu […]

(RSF/IFEX) – A month-old news blackout on the Burmese banking crisis, imposed by the military junta, is a flagrant violation of the Burmese people’s right to be freely informed, RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) said on 17 March 2003. Newspaper editors have been threatened with reprisals should they violate the ban. “The Burmese […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) have reiterated their call for the release of detained journalist U Win Tin on medical grounds. On 12 March 2003, the journalist celebrated his 73rd birthday in Rangoon general hospital, where he is being treated for a heart condition. One of the country’s best-known journalists and […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 3 December 2002, RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA, an organisation of Burmese journalists in exile) voiced their concern over the health of detained journalist and pro-democracy activist U Win Tin, aged 72, who was transferred to Rangoon general hospital on 23 November. “Following the recent release of around 100 political […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 30 October 2002, RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) condemned the government’s month-long closure of two magazines. The first magazine was banned for quoting an officially banned writer, and the other because it published an advertisement for a company in neighbouring Thailand. The two organisations said the move, announced on 10 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association have condemned the arrests of dozens of dissidents for their involvement in distributing newspapers that have been banned by the junta. Some of the dissidents have been held in undisclosed locations for more than ten days. “Although 18 political prisoners were released in September, this new crackdown […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Thaw Thaw Myo Han, a telecommunications student at Rangoon’s University of Technology and writer and contributor to the magazines “Sa-be-byu”, “Han-thit” and “Atwe-amyin”, was arrested by the military secret police on 17 August 2002, along with two other students. The military secret police released him and 19 other students on 23 August. He […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 30 July 2002, RSF and the Burma Media Association welcomed the transfer of detained journalist U Win Tin to Rangoon General Hospital. According to the Democratic Voice of Burma radio station, U Win Tin was transferred to the hospital’s prisoners’ ward on 27 July. He has been imprisoned for the past 13 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 July 2002, RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA) expressed their grave concern about the sharply deteriorating condition of U Win Tin, the 72-year-old Burmese journalist who has been imprisoned for the past 13 years for opposing the country’s military regime. “We are appalled by the government’s criminal attitude towards political […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Burmese photographer Khin Aye Kyu was recently released from prison after serving a four-year sentence for distributing unauthorised videotapes and illegally possessing video equipment. Confirming her release, she told RSF that she was trying to resume her career as a photographer, but that her first priority was looking after her brother, Ko Sein […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA, an organisation of Burmese journalists in exile) have strongly condemned the recent obstacles to press freedom by the Burmese and Thai governments, particularly in the frontier zone between the two countries. “Once again, Burmese and Thai journalists are victims of the tensions between their respective governments,” […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is an 18 July 2002 CPJ press release: BURMA-THAILAND: Authorities restrict media amid bilateral tension New York, July 18, 2002-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns recent moves by both Burmese and Thai authorities to crack down on the media in response to heightened tensions between the two countries. A series […]

(TJA/IFEX) – The following is a 15 July 2002 TJA press release: TJA Protests Rangoon’s blacklisting of 15 Thai Journalists On Saturday, the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) protested Rangoon’s decision to blacklist fifteen Thai journalists working for local dailies, saying the dictatorial move would block Thai media from having comprehensive views on Burma and worsen […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 and FORUM-ASIA press release: 16 July 2002 TRAVEL BANS ON JOURNALISTS VIOLATE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FORUM-ASIA and ARTICLE 19 condemn the recent travel restrictions imposed by the Thai and Burmese governments preventing Burmese and Thai journalists, respectively, from entering the other country. It is not legitimate […]

(RSF/IFEX) – “Once again, the military junta’s censorship bureau has temporarily banned private publications for ridiculous reasons. The government is making no efforts to reduce the control of information. Burma remains one of the most hostile countries for the private press,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to Colonel Tin Hlaing, the State […]