BNI demands release of journalists

by Kyaw Kha
Wednesday, 18 November 2009 22:05

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Burma News International (BNI), a network of 11 independent news organizations in exile, including Mizzima News, urged the military regime today to unconditionally release detained journalists before the 2010 general election.

It also demanded that the regime hold free and fair elections, and allow the media free access to the election and freedom in printing. It also said the junta must put a halt to censorship in Burma.

BNI, which comprises media groups based in neighbouring countries of Burma, made these demands at their 14th bi-annual meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 15 to 17.

“Even in the post-election period, the junta must allow journalists to cover the election and report freely. It must allow free movement in all areas and allow media freedom including allowing photojournalists to take photographs and send news and photographs to the international media without any restriction and censorship,” BNI office bearer Nai Ka Sot Mon told Mizzima.

BNI comprises of Kachin News Group, Karen News Centre, Kandarawaddy Times, Kaladan, Kaowao, Mizzima, Narinjara, Shan Herald News Agency (SHAN), Independent Mon News Agency, Network Media Group and Khonumthung News.

According to statistics by Paris based Reporters Sans Frontier (RSF), there are at least 14 journalists and bloggers, who fought for media freedom among a total of 2,000 political prisoners, who are still languishing in Burmese prisons.

According to the New York based Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ), Burma is one of the worst countries in terms of suppression of internet users and bloggers.

Reports attacking the foreign media are always published in the state-run media. On the other hand, the junta allows some news related to politics to be published in domestic journals.

But that does not tantamount to media freedom in Burma, ‘Burma Media Association’ (BMA) Secretary San Moe Wei said.

“They just allow reports and criticisms, which are not quite different from their planned agenda and policy. In fact they still don’t allow free commentary and critical reports on politics,” he said.

BNI was established with four Burmese news agencies based on the India-Burma and Bangladesh-Burma border in 2003 and then the number of member organizations increased to 11.