Monday, 10 October 2011 22:29 Phanida
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - A new weekly journal called “The Union” covering events in ethnic areas of Burma will be launched soon, Phyo Wai Lin, the editor, told Mizzima.
The journal will cover political, economic and social events in ethnic areas and could be launched in November, although it has yet to receive a publishing license, he said.
“In Burma, there is no nationwide media that can report events in the ethnic areas. So we want to report about these events,” said Phyo Wai Lin. “It is important for me to publish the journal at this time, to let the public to know about the ethnic people and their role. I think that it’s past time to do it.”
“Mostly, current news journals can not report about events happening in ethnic areas. So, there is no space to give us a voice. We can express our views only if the media asks us,” Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) trustee Saw Than Myint said.
When a publisher license is granted, the journal will appoint reporters and hold journalism-related training.
“Now, the political system has changed. I hear that the publishing license will be granted,” Saw Than Myint said. The journal applied for a license in July.
In related areas, Tint Swe, the director general of the censorship board, told Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service) on October 8 that there should be no prior censorship in Burma because it was incompatible with democratic practices.
He said: “Both in our neighbouring countries and the world, a censorship department prior to release should not exist. According to my own view, the process of censoring manuscripts prior to publication is not in keeping with modern times. I believe that the system of censoring manuscripts before publication is not needed anymore.”
However, an interview in the Messenger Journal with international legal consultant Than Maung about a Memorandum of Understandings between the former Burmese junta and international companies and organizations has recently been censored. Also, the censorship board did not allow reports of the fighting in Kachin State, according to an editor in Burma.
Meanwhile, there is a government military offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization underway in Kachin State and state-run newspapers have not reported it.
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - A new weekly journal called “The Union” covering events in ethnic areas of Burma will be launched soon, Phyo Wai Lin, the editor, told Mizzima.
The journal will cover political, economic and social events in ethnic areas and could be launched in November, although it has yet to receive a publishing license, he said.
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| Editor hopes to launch |
“In Burma, there is no nationwide media that can report events in the ethnic areas. So we want to report about these events,” said Phyo Wai Lin. “It is important for me to publish the journal at this time, to let the public to know about the ethnic people and their role. I think that it’s past time to do it.”
“Mostly, current news journals can not report about events happening in ethnic areas. So, there is no space to give us a voice. We can express our views only if the media asks us,” Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) trustee Saw Than Myint said.
When a publisher license is granted, the journal will appoint reporters and hold journalism-related training.
“Now, the political system has changed. I hear that the publishing license will be granted,” Saw Than Myint said. The journal applied for a license in July.
In related areas, Tint Swe, the director general of the censorship board, told Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service) on October 8 that there should be no prior censorship in Burma because it was incompatible with democratic practices.
He said: “Both in our neighbouring countries and the world, a censorship department prior to release should not exist. According to my own view, the process of censoring manuscripts prior to publication is not in keeping with modern times. I believe that the system of censoring manuscripts before publication is not needed anymore.”
However, an interview in the Messenger Journal with international legal consultant Than Maung about a Memorandum of Understandings between the former Burmese junta and international companies and organizations has recently been censored. Also, the censorship board did not allow reports of the fighting in Kachin State, according to an editor in Burma.
Meanwhile, there is a government military offensive against the Kachin Independence Organization underway in Kachin State and state-run newspapers have not reported it.
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