(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 […]
(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 Peace and Development Council’s (SPDC) interior minister. RSF and the Burma Media Association (BMA, an organisation of exiled Burmese journalists) deplored the ban imposed on the publications “Living Color”, “Mhyar Nat Maung Mingalar” and “Kyi pwar yee”. The two organisations called on the minister to immediately repeal the decision and put an end to censorship of information.
According to information obtained by RSF and the BMA, the Literary Scrutiny Board (censorship bureau) banned the publication of the magazines “Living Color”, “Mhyar Nat Maung Mingalar” and “Kyi pwar yee” during the month of June 2002. According to the independent monthly “Irrawaddy”, the business magazine “Living Color” was punished for having published an advertisement of the MK Billiard Company. The company is reportedly in conflict with the military junta’s Ministry of Sport because it refused to give equipment to the official billiards association. Founded in 1995, “Living Color”, whose managing editor is the son of Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt, had never been penalised before. In addition, the Literary Scrutiny Board banned “Kyi pwar yee” for using the word “Yodaya” (the former name for Thailand) in its latest issue. On 22 May, the Literary Scrutiny Board told publishers of private publications in Rangoon that they were forbidden from publishing articles or advertisements concerning Thailand. The move followed recent military and diplomatic tension between the two countries (see IFEX alert of 29 May 2002). Finally, the magazine “Mhyar Nat Maung Mingalar” was banned for publishing an advertisement on a page of the magazine that is usually reserved for SPDC propaganda. The magazine, published since 1991, focuses on women’s news and short stories.
