Bridge to the world

However,legislation to regulate the media has been controversial. In February,the new Press Council,which is apparently modelled on the corresponding institutions in India and Indonesia,found that its draft bill faced competition from another bill placed before parliament by the minister for information and communications. The latter’s draft faced criticism internationally on the grounds that it would infringe on press freedoms,and that it was open to misuse by government since its terms were vaguely stated. Indeed,its language seems to be borrowed from the Press (Emergency Powers) Act of 1931,which is so archaic that it cannot differentiate between a printing press and a photocopier. The Press Council’s Press Law Bill,however,is contemporary in tone and intent.

Myanmar built bridges with the international community after the dissolution of the military junta and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2011. But in order to be accepted as a modern nation,it had to establish a free and fair media. The launch of private dailies is the first step. Now,the government needs to prevent the misuse of its media legislation,or drop the idea altogether and encourage media to regulate itself.