Burma - Military censors send privately-owned media directive with 10 prohibitions

    MONTREAL, Nov. 4 /CNW Telbec/ - Reporters Without Borders and its partner
organisation, the Burma Media Association, have obtained a copy of a directive
which the military government's censorship office recently sent to the Burmese
media spelling out 10 rules for editors and the sanctions they will incur for
not respecting them.
    "The directive is a paragon of news control inasmuch as editors are
threatened with punishments ranging up to imprisonment if they do not follow
the rules for prior censorship," the two organisations said. "It confirms that
Burma continues to be a paradise for censors. And the military stop at nothing
to ensure that no embarrassing news items slips through the net."
    The two organisations added: "This unpublished document highlights the
scale of the censorship and threats with which the privately-owned media are
confronted while trying to inform the public."
    The first point in the directive is a reminder of the principle of prior
censorship: "Publication of any photo, drawing, painting, article, novel or
poem that has not been submitted will be punished." The censorship office then
lists nine other restrictions that editors must observe. Certain reports
cannot be printed on the front page. Any change after verification by the
authorities is forbidden. Photos and drawings must be of the authorised size.
No report that has been rejected by the censors should ever be resubmitted.
    The second part of the directive, which was sent to the Burmese media in
September, lists the various sanctions for failing to adhere to the rules.
They are clearly designed to intimidate editors:

    1. Publications will be confiscated
    2. The right of publication will be suspended
    3. The printing press used for the publication will be confiscated
    4. The right of publication will be suspended for good
    5. The 1962 laws, which provide for heavy prison sentences, will be
       applied.

    Burma currently has more than 100 privately-owned publications, all of
which are subject to prior censorship by Maj. Tint Swe's Press Scrutiny and
Registration Board. As well as the traditionally-banned subjects such as
democracy, the plight of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi or the economic
and social crisis, many national and international developments are also
subject to a news blackout.

For further information: Katherine Borlongan, Executive Director,
Reporters Without Borders Canada, (514) 521-4111, rsfcanada@rsf.org