Reporters Without Borders and the Burma Media Association (BMA), are concerned about other recent restrictions on media freedom reported by the exile media, which continue to demonstrate the importance of their role in covering developments inside Burma.
“The libel action against Thet Su Aung is marring the reform process that the government has initiated with respect to the media and we call for its withdrawal,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Furthermore, while we hail the steps taken by the authorities to protect journalists in their work, the censorship of an opposition campaign speech contradicts their claims to be sincere about democratization. “The same goes for the media law that is currently being drafted. As it stands, it will not allow the authorities to make good on their promises to guarantee media freedom. A complete overhaul of the relevant legislation, which dates back to the 1920s and 1960s, much be envisaged.”
Reporters Without Borders added: “The international community continues to be informed about these violations thanks to the remarkable work of news media based outside Burma such as Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima News, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia. As long as violations of freedom of information continue and these media are the only ones, or first ones to report them, we will regard Burma’s democratization as still incomplete.
Thet Su Aung, who appeared in court on 6 March, is being sued in connection with an article about the poor condition of several roads and bridges. The article also said that the engineer Nwe Nwe Yi had allowed the Su Htoo Pan company to charge high tolls to travellers along this stretch of road. Htun Win, the editor of the newspaper Shwe Mandalay, pointed out that Thet Su Aung was not the only reporter to write about the poor condition of the Thabeikkyin-Taguang road but she was the only one to be sued.
Sources said that, as it stands, this new media law will concern only the print media and will completely ignore other kinds of media.
At least four journalists (Zaw Tun, Win Saing, Ne Min and Aung Htun) and one blogger (Kaung Myat Hlaing, also known as Nat Soe) are still detained as they were not included in the 14 January amnesty.