Party canvassing on state media heavily censored

Friday, 24 September 2010 23:40 Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) – The Burmese junta’s electoral watchdog has refused permits for at least three political parties seeking to canvass on state-run radio and television, claiming the transcripts contained messages that could harm the state.

The Union Election Commission (UEC) has rejected transcripts of the Democratic Party (Myanmar), the Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics and 88 Generation Student Youths (Union of Myanmar), to canvass on television, and told the parties they must be modified.

“The whole transcript of our party to canvass on TV was rejected. Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) informed us that our talks slandered the state. They told us that we could modify our transcript and after that canvass for votes on radio, if the electoral commission approved it,” Democratic Party secretary Than Than Nu, a daughter of the first prime minister of Burma, U Nu, said.

Similarly, the UEC on Thursday informed the two other parties it had rejected their transcripts, saying they breached restrictions it had imposed. It failed to state which sections breached the restrictions.

“Our original transcript contains the message that we need civil government elected by democratic principles. Before that perfect condition, our human rights will still be denied and democracy will not be established. I don’t think they liked that message”, Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics chairman Aye Lwin told Mizzima.

“The political parties should have the right to present stances and policies to the public. But, because of the tight restrictions, we can do nothing,” Aye Lwin added.

Similarly, the transcript of the 88 Generation Student Youths (Union of Myanmar) party was also rejected.

Union Democratic Party (UDP) chairman Thein Htay said his party had submitted its transcript to the UEC, but said if the commission told the party to modify or remove any part of it, the party would revisit its plan to canvass on state media.

“The manuscript contains our party’s policies and stances. If it is censored, we will need to review our plan to canvass on [state] radio and TV. Currently, we are just waiting to see their response,” Thein Htay said.

The UEC was allowing 37 political parties to present their policy programmes on state radio and television from yesterday until next Thursday to canvass for votes. The presentations were recorded two days in advance of broadcast, and the presentations will be transmitted twice.

State media muzzles

The electoral commission has ordered political parties seeking to canvass on state radio or television:
(a)

not to give any talks that can harm “non-disintegration of the Union”, “non-disintegration of national solidarity” or “perpetuation of sovereignty”.
(b)

not to give any talks that can harm security, the rule of law and community peace,
(c)

not to disobey the State Constitution of Burma and existing laws,
(d)

not to stimulate sedition or give any talks that can tarnish the image of the state,
(e)

not to give any talks that can lead to the collapse of the armed forces or tarnish the image of the armed forces,
(f)

not to give any talks or take organising measures that can lead to conflict or harm to dignity or moral conduct in connection with racism, or religion or the affairs of an individual or community,
(g)

not to abuse religion for political ends,
(h)

not to give any talks that can harm the peaceful pursuit of education,
(i)

not to give any talks that can discourage service personnel from performing their duties or abet them to stage protests against the government.