'No timetable and no guarantee for private newspaper,' says government

Minister Aung Kyi responded to a question raised by MP Thein Nyunt of Thingangyun constituency in connection with the approval for publishing private newspaper at the regular parliament session on November 6.
 
The question was, “Even during the time of the Revolutionary Council (military government), private newspapers were allowed to print under the 1962 Printing and Publishers Registration Act. Therefore, whether the present Union Government has planned to allow the private newspapers to circulate as the said act still exists.”
 
The minister replied that the government has planned to allow private newspapers under the said 1962 Printing and Publishers Registration Act. However, in the changing landscape of the media in the modern days combined with the definition of newspaper skills, it is necessary to create a new environment of information sphere. It is therefore, efforts are being made in cooperation with the various organizations to build a new media environment. In this connection, basic code of ethics, rules and regulations, code of conduct, the norm and standard of media organizations, and the relevant laws are being discussed to be incorporated as necessary.
 
Thein Nyunt again asked the minister to give an exact timetable for private newspaper publications though it was likely to be allowed in 2013.
 
He pointed out that whether Myanmar has a press freedom meeting the international standard depends on the right to publish private newspapers.  
 
Minister Aung Kyi replied: “In reforming the media environment, it is up to how early all related organizations, including the interim press council, could approve for the constitution of a press council. Therefore, our government is not in a position to decide the exact date or timetable.” 
 
Comments on the minister’s clarification
 
Dr. Than Htut Aung, Chairman and CEO of Eleven Media Group
 
 “Two months ago, the information minister disclosed the publication of private newspapers would be allowed at the start of 2013. Both local and international media reported the news about it. The government’s attitude towards the private media is not clear. It has no sincerity. Oppressing and controlling the independent media mean the government has no wish to exercise genuine democracy.” 
 
“No idea of amending the 2008 Constitution means no idea of establishing national reconciliation, national consolidation and peace. (Only this point was highlighted at the peace dialogue with KIO.) Not having these two points will push the country backward direction and never bring peace. Everyone will no longer believe in the government.”
 
"The 1962 Act has not been abolished yet. The government is feeling reluctant to grant permission for the publication of private daily newspapers. Only the cronies have been granted permission to monopolize electronic media sector. The government has no answer for "Freedom of Press", and in other word, cannot guarantee democracy. The government is trying to have complete control of media with the use of finance and law like the media of Singapore. Malaysia and Cambodia governments are the same as Singapore that are trying to control media. Anyhow, these governments cannot be democratic.
The information minister used the words "disciplined democracy" in an interview with BBC. In this state, I want to ask responsible persons whether they understand dictatorship of so-called democracy.
I would like to plainly tell that we don't want so-called democracy that monopolizes private media like in Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. In those countries, only the ruling parties monopolize the media by pleasing the opposition.”
 
Zay Ya Thu, editor-in-charge of the Voice Weekly
 
“We, desired to print the daily newspaper are waiting for a permit and preparing. It could be better at lease to know when to print with permission. If so, we can prepare faster on necessities. Permission should be granted for private newspaper to release as soon as possible. If the permission was granted, the media would serve effectively in the developing of the country. Now, we [media] are able to serve the country once a week. As we see, the government is using media to lay down the suitable policies for the country. For instant, to eliminate the smuggling, media will be included in curbing of smuggling.
It is a good sign. The government now accepts that media is necessary to solve those kinds of situations. Daily newspaper will be more beneficial to the governments for solving problems.
Now we cannot adjust the “Tempo” systematically when to go or down the beat for printing a daily newspaper. It could be better for us to know an approximate time when we will be able to print.” 
 
Zaw Thet Htwe, Myanmar Journalists Union (Interim)
 
"We believed doubtfully that permission will be granted to print private newspapers. It was announced by the Ministry of Information. First, I was shocked. Second, the minister saying unmatched words in Parliaments that will make me not to believe in their words."
 
Aye Aye Win of the Associate Press news agency
 
“It’s been over one and a half year since they said they will allow the publication of private newspapers. Why are they so afraid to allow the publication of private newspapers? Now, there are many significant changes in Myanmar, but it is bad that there have been no changes regarding the allowance of the publication of newspapers. The government cannot make clear-cut decisions. I think there are too many anxieties.”
 
Thura Aung, editor-in-charge of the Messenger journal
 
“As I remember, the Minister of Information U Aung Kyi said that (the government) will allow the publication of newspapers in early 2013 for all the journals that want to publish newspapers. Based on (his remark), the journal publication houses have been doing recruitments, other preparations, and investments. We suffer many losses because of what he said at the Parliament. Also, I am amazed at why the government that is practicing democracy cannot allow newspapers. In real democratic countries, there aren’t any newspapers that publish using public treasure. Now there is the media who will take the responsibility for the fourth pillar, but I cannot understand why they won’t allow the publications."  
 
Thaung Htike, CEO of True News Journal
 
“The readers have been waiting for daily newspaper. We have expected the circulation in April or May next year. If the minister can’t tell the exact time to permit the publication, then we have to ask him why, although he is the highest person in his ministry. He has taken little responsibility. He should take responsibility to tell exact time frame of newspaper printing.”
 
Veteran journalist Hanthawady U Win Tin

“To be frank, I don’t believe in state-run newspapers. There must be private newspapers. As far as I can remember, around 1950, Myanmar had newspapers in various versions such as Chinese, Indian, English and Burmese. All of them were published in Yangon. I want to see private newspapers. People’s different ideas and opinions can be read in those newspapers. When many private journals came out, we have found different but independent expressions. So we would like to have private newspapers published.”
 
“Regarding the media, they (the government) once said it was better to have a media service that serves the public interest. We welcome that. But, reforming the state-run newspapers is not enough. It is also necessary to open doors for the private media to be able to serve the public interest. The existing rules and laws must be changed, amended or revoked. And this is my belief.”
 
“The government talked about the publication of private newspapers variously. What they have said is not right yet when a new information minister was appointed. On one occasion, they said private newspapers could be published in early 2013. On another occasion, they said again that it was not possible. Anyhow, what we heard is who has been allowed to publish and who will be allowed. In that regard, the time has come to publish private newspapers. If possible, state-run newspapers should not exist. The Kyemon and Myanma Alin dailies were privately owned in the past. I think they should be privatized now.”
 
“Another thing is that they should assess who is appropriate and capable of publishing a private newspaper. It is rumoured that the government has handpicked some to publish private newspapers and that they are getting prepared and seeking new employees. I think it is not appropriate. I completely favour private newspapers. Even the Kyemon and Myanma Alin newspapers must be privatized. This is my opinion. Private newspapers must emerge. State-run newspapers should not exist.
 
Veteran Journalist Thar Barn
 
The words of government top ranking officials keep changing. Their expressions are not uniform. Therefore, it means that the government has been in disarray. They individually do whatever they like. The new information minister seems to be agreeable terms with media persons. He is supposed that he values the media persons. The government will decide on publication of daily newspapers to grant permission to the private sector. Whether private daily newspapers will be published in 2013 or in 2014 is the matter for the cabinet to make decision. However, the information minister said that he can't tell the exact time to permit publication of his own volition.
 
Khin Maung Aye, Chairman of Myanmar Journalists Council (Temporary)
 
We will have to prescribe and issue journalistic codes of conduct as the information minister said. I think private daily newspapers will be permitted after the emergence of the media bill. He doesn't exactly tell us what to do. Publication permits are a good sign of the country. The faster is the better. I want the private daily newspapers to be permitted at the end of this year or early next year. We have to present media ethics. The more newspapers are published, the more knowledge people will acquire.