Myanmar state media provide rare coverage of Aung San Suu Kyi
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Yangon - Myanmar state-run media on Friday provided rare coverage of democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi's trip to the United States.
"Daw (Madam) Aung San Suu Kyi received the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest award for civilians presented by the US Congress, Wednesday," the state-owned New Light of Myanmar reported.
Suu Kyi, a longtime critic of the country's regime, has seldom featured in its state-controlled media, which did not mention either of her recent visits to Thailand and Europe, her first trips abroad since gaining a seat in parliament, and a new passport, in May.
"Today's appearance of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in state-run newspapers is the result of the upgrading of media reforms under the new Minister of Information Aung Kyi," in office since August, Deputy Information Miniter Ye Htut said.
"Aung Kyi is now trying to provide news on interesting people in the state-run TV stations and newspapers." Suu Kyi, 67, spent a total of 15 years under house arrest from 1989. She was released and allowed to run for parliament under reforms implemented by the government, which took power in March2011.
Press freedom in Myanmar, which was under military dictatorships from 1962 to 2010, has been ranked among the world's worst.
Restrictions on the local press have been gradually eased under President Thein Sein's reforms. Last month the government dropped a pre-publication censorship requirement on news with political content.//DPA
