Freedom of the Press - Myanmar continues to make quick reformsMyanmar’s Union Parliament is poised to vote on at least two major press freedom bills before the end of this summer. Some components of the draft laws are welcomed, but the drafting process is raising concerns. Parliament should take the opportunity and their time review these bills, and perhaps allow reform process to slow down a bit.
The first major piece of legislation to be introduced in Parliament in the coming weeks is the Printing and Publishing Enterprise Law. Several strict rules of self-censorship still remain. The Ministry of Information (MOI) has come under internatioanl and domestic criticsm for its continued arcane policies. This original version of the bill was introduced last March. The criticism lead the MOI to revise the bill in consultation with the Myanmar Press Council, a 28-member body of journalists and 10 government-appointed representatives.
Parliament will also vote this month on a draft Public Service Media (PSM) bill. This bill would have 70 percent of PSM funding come from public funds and the remainder from commercial activities. It also calls for the creation of a 15-member administrative team appointed by the president and Parliament to oversee the transformation process.
A third bill, the Press Law Bill, which the Myanmar Press Council introduced in February to outline industry standards and safeguard journalistic freedom, still waits in the wings. While the legislation does roll back some troublesome regulations, it still bans criticism of state institutions and does not meet the highest international standards.
