Yangon, Myanmar: When shall we get media freedom? It was asked by Chief Editor of Weekly Eleven News Journal, a well known newspaper inMyanmar, to his audience on Journal’s official website. Even thoughMyanmarcivilian government has lifted some restrictions upon media, he said it is totally different from international media freedom, as it was written on Weekly Eleven Journal’s website on 19th February.
His statement emerged after U Tin Maung Oo, Pyi Thu Hlutaw (parliament) representative from Union Solidarity and Development Party, an opposition party to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, raised questions by accusing that current media fromMyanmarare writing in one sided form. He insinuated that journalists and reporters are praising too much upon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s works.
U Tin Maung Oo also stated thatMyanmarneeds media which will support the development of the country and pointed out that more numbers of high quality young reporters are needed. U Soe Min, vice minister of Minstry of Information, requited to U Tin Maung Oo’s statement with “We are analysing the media whether they are written in one sided form and also trying our best to bar them from Myanmar media society. It is ture that we need editors, journalists, reporters who can take responsibilities with their job done. We also plan to establish ‘Press Council’ which will monitor media which are currently publishing nationwide.”
“I am surprised that we are still facing censorship.” told by Ko Wai Phyo, chief editor of Weekly Eleven News Journal. “We still don’t have private newspaper and only some privileged business owners who have personal relationship with government officials have rights to operate Electronic Media. We still don’t have complete freedom in media”, he uttered in disappointment. In his blog post, he wrote that he will put objection if government prescribes the rule to control over the media freedom. “On behalf of Eleven Media Group, we will announce our intention upon the upcoming media rule.” He stated in his blog post. “To make Myanmara country practicing real democracy, we suppose other journals and media group will join together with us in our objection.” He added.
Reporters who were reporting at the time U Tin Maung Oo put that statement in parliament were angry with his statement and said there are many other important issues such as finance or rules and regulation rather than reporters and media.