The government’s formation of the Myanmar Core Press Council (MCPC),
which was announced on Friday, provoked criticism from journalists who claimed
its formation without approval from local media can lead to complications and
cannot safeguard freedom of press.
The government has announced a
20-member core press council which has been formed to protect media persons,
compile journalism ethics and settle press disputes.
The council will be chaired by
retired Supreme Court judge U Khin Maung Aye, and retired principal of the
United Nations System Staff College Dr Aung Tun Thet and retired Myanmar
Language Professor Dr Khin Aye will serve as vice chairmen.
‘’The formation of the core press
council can be considered to replace Myanmar notorious censorship board, and I
don’t think the council will guarantee freedom of press which have been fought
by the Myanmar media for ages,’’ a veteran journalist said.
The Eleven Media Group and other
journalists’ associations have issued statements that they do not believe the
council can promote journalism ethics, protect journalists and safeguard
freedom of press.
“The formation of the council
without common consent of media can lead to complications, and restriction on the
media will make a U-turn of democratisation process in the country. And
enjoying immunity from criminal or civil prosecution against members of MCPC
Council would be tantamount to putting them above the law,” the Eleven Media
Group said in its statement.
“Some members of the council have
records of breaching journalism ethics. So how could they work for journalism
ethics? And some are publishers so there will be conflicts of interest in the
future,” an editor of a weekly journal who asked not to be named said.
The formation of the core press
council came a week after a protest by journalists to demand more press
freedom. Myanmar journalists staged a protest after the Press Scrutiny and
Registration Department suspended the publication of two private news journals,
the Voice and Envoy, for having violated regulations. The two journals are
expected to resume publication by next week.
“There are many problems as the
government has callously formed the Myanmar Core Press Council and the draft
press media law without revealing them to the journalists. For example, in some
countries, a judge is appointed to be a chairperson of a press council. That
country has a good judicial system, and the judges are respected and
influential people. Here, the judicial system has been corrupted for about 40
years, and most of the judges are not in this position. It goes wrong as
they've imitated this. There will also be problems if the press media law is
(being drafted) with force. The press council should not stand with authority
and order. It should stand firmly and powerfully with strong policies and the
ethics and dignity of the members. Even though we cannot participate, we will
not hesitate to support it if it is formed with respected people who can
guarantee freedom of press. The reason why there is a conflict between the
government and the news media is because of a particular government official
who is drafting the press media law and wants to make a U-turn (of
democratisation process),” Dr. Than Htut Aung, CEO of Eleven Media Group said.
“The government's announced that
they have formed the press council. It was formed without electing so how can
the group have freedom? How can it be a group that protects us – the newsmen
and media persons? We need to think about this. They do not represent the
press. They are not going to work for the benefit of the press and seems as
they want to control the press. Moreover, there are people in the group who are
not related to the press business. I think it shouldn’t happen like this. It
will be a joke to write the press ethics by them,” Veteran journalist U Ko Ko
Gyi (Kyaemone) said.
The council will discharge duties
until it is handed over to the Myanmar Press Council to be formed in line with
the Press Media Law after it has been approved by the parliament.
The draft press media law is
currently being compiled by the Ministry of Information.
News Desk
Eleven Media Group
Eleven Media Group
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