"If I do wrong, write about me. If the queens do wrong, write about them. If my sons and daughters do wrong, write about them. If the judges and mayors do wrong, write about them. No one shall take action against the journalists for writing the truth. They shall go in and out of the palace freely."
-King Mindon (1853 - 1878)
King Mindon, the second last Burmese monarch, gave Burma a reputation as having one of the freest presses in Asia through his enactment of 17 Articles ensuring immunity of the press.
Since then, press freedom has fluctuated with the near complete muzzling of the press under the current regime. Today, all forms of expression in Burma are strictly controlled and censored by instruments of the military junta. Defenders of the press are subject to a series of arbitrary laws, ranking Burma as one of the worst enemies of press freedom in the world.
This was not always the case. Since Burma's first newspaper appeared in 1836, several hundred other publications have emerged over the years. The 1947 Constitution of the Union of Burma ensured freedom of expression. Likewise, the 1974 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma made similar guarantees subject "to the extent that the enjoyment of such freedom is not contrary to the interests of the working people and of socialism." In reality, the measure of protection provided under these provisions was questionable, however, these constitutions brought forth some minimal safeguards in comparison to Burma today-void of any legal mechanisms to protect press freedom.
The Irrawaddy, as a promoter of press freedom, is today launching a research page on censorship in Burma in order to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2004 and to pay tribute to those who have been, or still are, detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Chronology of the Press in Burma
Chronology of Burma's Laws Restricting Freedom of Opinion, Expression and the Press
List of Journalists, Authors and Poets Who Received Sentences After 1988
(This research page will be updated at a later stage.)
Media Organizations:
www.bma-online.net
Link to the Burma Media Association
www.cpj.org
Link to the Committee to Protect Journalists
www.rsf.org
Link to Reporters Sans Frontiers
