Myanmar - Myanmar journalists slam government-appointed Press Council

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

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