Media bills up for Parliament debate

The Myanmar Press Council can submit its proposed media law to Parliament in parallel with the Information Ministry-drafted printing and publishing bill, Ye Htut, deputy minister for information has announced.

The minister made the announcement during a meeting with members of Myanmar Printers and Publishers Association and Myanmar Publishers and Distributors Association in Yangon on Saturday.

“The press council can send us its drafted media law as they promised earlier. Or, they can also forward it to Parliament directly. They have the right to do so according to the constitution. 

“If the government-drafted printing and publishing draft law and their media law are submitted simultaneously, action to be taken will be up to the Parliament’s Joint Bill Committee. And the decision will be made by Parliament,” Ye Htut said.

The government formed a 29-member interim press council on September 17 last year to draft a media law in cooperation with the information ministry. The press council plans to submit its proposed law during the upcoming session of Parliament. 

“The printing and publishing bill is now in the hands of the joint-bill committee. This draft law will not stop as some people say. 

“Before a forthcoming parliamentary session of the Union Assembly, the committee can reconsider the draft law. Those attending the meeting can give suggestions by April 20,” Ye Htut said.

The Ministry of Information’s draft printing and publishing bill drew strong criticism from media, civic and political organisations when it was first publicised on February 27. Critics said the bill would restrict press freedom and demanded the draft be withdrawn.

Myanmar Printers and Publishers Association chairman Dr Tin Tun Oo, who is a major supporter of the information ministry-drafted bill, said, “I am happy with the current press bill because it has fewer restrictions than the 1932 and 1962 press laws. As for me, I want the press bill to be sent to Parliament through the joint bill committee. When the law comes into force, I will respect and follow it as a dutiful citizen.”

Tin Tun Oo is the publisher of Pyi Myanmar News Journal. He and Khin Moe Moe own 51 per cent of the shares in Myanmar Consolidated Media, which publishes the Myanmar Times Journal.

Tin Tun Oo made a failed bid for Parliament during the 2010 elections.

No representative from the Myanmar Journalists Association, Myanmar Journalists Union, Myanmar Journalists Network or the interim press council were invited to the Saturday meeting.

“When it comes to the mass media, news will be valuable if we send it out to the people and accept their feedback,” said Pyone Cho of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society group, who attended the meeting. 

“So I want to suggest that if media-related laws are drafted, they should be sent to the press council.”