Today's Newspapers in Burma and Freedom of Expression

by Htun Aung Gyaw

"If I do wrong, write about me. If my queen does wrong, write about the queen. If my sons and daughters do wrong write about them. If judges do wrong, write about them. If the mayors do wrong, write about them. No one can take an action against the press for writing the truth. All people from the press are allowed to enter and leave the palace without interruption."

King Min Don (Ruled Burma from 1853 - to 1878) -(Yatana pun Nay Pyi Daw, Mandalay Palace). King Min Don was the father of Burmese last King ThiBaw. The quotation shows, Burmese have traditionally exercised their basic human right to free speech.

Burmese enjoyed freedom of expression under Monarchy, Colonial, and parliamentary rule but not under military control. After the military coup in 1962, independent newspapers were systematically crushed by various means. Some were forced to stop publication some were nationalized, and some were charged a higher income tax rate that they were unable to pay. Finally, independent newspapers ceased to exist. Among them was a well-respected English newspaper "The Nation" owned by journalist U Law Yone. In 1969, the only independent newspaper that existed in Burma was Yangon Daily but the military regime closed it without explanation. Ethnic newspapers in languages such as Mons, Chin, Chinese and Indians existed under colonial and post-colonial rule, but they were not allowed to exist under military rule.

Today, under SLORC/SPDC, only regime-run newspapers exist. The SPDC mouth piece, The Working Peoples' Daily which was first published by the BSPP regime in October 1963. Its first English version appeared in January 1964. In 1994-95, its name was changed to "The New Light of Myanmar"(NLM), in order to appear as if it were changing from socialist to nationalist attitudes. But all along, it has merely printed public relations for the military regime.

The 1988 nationwide uprising which rejected the military-led socialist rule forced the military leaders to change their course from so called Socialism to discipline democracy. They began this process in 1990 elections but stopped abruptly when they lost it. Today, only five newspapers exist in Burma for the entire population of 46 million people. In comparison with New York City alone with 7 million people, it has more than 15 newspapers. In contrast, under colonial rule, there were thirty independent newspapers in 1946; seventeen were Burmese and the other thirteen were English, Chinese, Indian and ethnic Mon and Chin. Today all five newspapers are run solely by the regime as their propaganda tools.

[ Taken from a recent copy of the "New Light of Myanmar" ]

On the front page of the NLM, is printed "Established 1914". This date leads people (especially foreigners, Burmese know that it is not true) to mistakenly believe that it is related to a different newspaper, The Light of Burma (LOB) an independent newspaper which was first published in 1914. But the NLM is not the same one. SLORC/SPDC wanted to lie to the people that their version of NLM is a continuation of an old nationalist newspaper. In fact, it is merely the conversion of "The Working Peoples' Daily." The names of the newspaper are different, the publishers, and their essences are also different. Basically, LOB criticizes the colonial regime freely; the NLM support the military regime wholly, in repressive atmosphere where it could do no else. On the very bottom of every newspaper's first page, including NLM the regime commands that the slogan "Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Myanmar Naing-Ngan" is printed. Also there is a square box on every front page of the Burmese newspapers. Inside the box, the regime dictates those, four political objectives, four economic objectives and, four social objectives are printed. This is the format of today's Burmese newspapers. In addition, all books, magazines, and journals published in Burma have to print the propaganda made by regime without payment. They are required to print free advertisement for the regime, if they want to publish their publications.

Independent observers clearly note that even though SPDC prints "Emergence of the State Constitution is the duty of all citizens of Burma" they do not have real intentions to finish it. SLORC/SPDC has been drawing up the new constitution since 1993 to the present. When question by the media, SPDC refused to give the time frame for finishing. They drag their feet because it is not their best interest to finish it.

The four political objectives printed by the regime in newspapers are not likely to be achieved today either. The goals of "Stability of the State, community peace and tranquillity, prevalence of law and order" are out of reach. SPDC is using guns, forced labor, harsh punishment, arbitrary killing, and forced porterage. In addition, they accused and jailed oppositions as neocolonialist to maintain the political power.

[ Taken from a recent copy of the "New Light of Myanmar" ]

The newspapers repeat the slogan of National reconsolidation but they mean only to strengthen the Burmese army, not the Burmese people who want a peaceful political process. They claim they want to build a new modern developed nation in accord with the new state constitution but the constitutional drafting is going nowhere. SPDC have to finish the constitution first and after that the elected party will carry on the latter objective.

Similarly four economic objectives are not likely to be achieved. The regime is not likely to reach their target of the development of agriculture as the base and all-round development of others sectors of the economy. Today, because of floods and the government's bad economic policies, rice shortage is imminent. SPDC can not sell the rice this year. Soldiers' rations are cut off. It shown that development of agriculture is falling apart.

[ Taken from a recent copy of the "New Light of Myanmar" ]

The second economic objective, which will create the proper evolution of the market-oriented economic system, is clearly failed. Much foreign investment pulls out from Burma because of corruption and unworkable money exchange system. The initiative to shape the national economy must be kept in the hands of the state and the national people are not likely to happen. The fourth objective which will allows the state economy in the hand of the people is a joke. Most of the Burmese nationals are very poor and only the foreigners and military elite can invest in Burma today.

As the same token, four social objectives are far away to achieve. The first objective of uplift of the morale and mortality of the entire nation is totally impossible. Today, many children who live along the roadside from Mandalay to Rangoon run to buses and cars and begged for money, when the cars stop near their villages. Burma became a beggar country under military rule. Still Burma is one of the poorest countries in the world. The Burmese army in the border region collected porter fees from the villagers as their surplus salary. SLORC was abolished because the generals were corrupted. The regime refused to hand over the power to the elected opposition party proved that the rulers broke their promise to the people.

[ Taken from a recent copy of the "New Light of Myanmar" ]

The second objective of uplift of national prestige and integrity and preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage and national character is not likely to achieve. How can SPDC uplift the national prestige and integrity and safeguarding of cultural heritage? the country was granted as least developing country status (LDC) after 25 years of military rule. The regime does not dare to recognize the 1990 election results; Burmese antiques were gone through border route to Thailand. The Slorc/SPDC still lie on people that they want to establish the genuine democratic government. But the nature of the army is to use violent means, attack and kill their enemy, to obey the orders from the above without complaint. There is no democracy within the military hierarchy. It is the nature of the army. Wolves will eat sheeps if they have chance. They will not eat grass. As a poor country Burmese lost their integrity because neighboring countries do not want Burmese to visit to their countries because 95% of the Burmese try to find jobs in other countries as illegal workers. Aung San Suu Kyi tried to visit Mandalay by train and her coach was dropped in the station. Again Aung San Suu Kyi tried to visit local youth members in Rangoon; she was barred to visit the National League for Democracy local offices. Recently she tried to visit three times to Pathein, to her party regional office then her car was blocked. The authorities said she has been taking a vacation. It is today integrity that Burma has getting so far.

The third objective of uplift of dynamism of patriotic spirit by the regime is only smear propaganda. People are poor and they hated the military. They see the military as bully organs of the Burmese society. They saw the soldiers as mercenaries not as patriotic people. But they see the students and revolutionaries as real patriotic people. How can Burmese think that SPDC is really uplifting the patriotic spirit, when people witness that the army killed 3000 innocent unarmed students demonstrators including high schools and middle schools students in 1988.

The fourth social objective of uplift of health, fitness and education standards of the entire nation is an insult. Hospitals have no medicine and people have to depend on Chinese and Thai medicines. Inflation rate is so high that people can not afford to buy meat and nutritious foods. Some people are eating boil rice not solid rice any more. Without nutritious food, people can not be healthy and uplift the health and fitness is only rights for the SPDC circle not the people. Universities and schools have been closed since 1996 December. Without teaching in the classes for nearly two years, students were forced to take exams in August 1998. From 1988 to the present within 10 years, total opening period for the universities and colleges is not more than two years. Eight years had been wasted. How can Burmese uplift the education standards? Students are the future leaders of Burma but how can they lead the country when their education is denied?

Today all Burmese newspapers have standardized formula. That is;

1. Praised the regime
   
   
2. Print the slogans in the front page, which were periodically issued by the regime.
   
   
3. Strongly criticize the oppositions, especially NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi.
   
   
4. Various articles were posted with unknown names and the authors hide their names all the time. It is well known that all the authors were known by the regime and without the authority's approval, the newspapers will not publish their articles. In contrast, under colonial rule nationalist newspapers were shut down if they strongly criticize the authorities or pay fine. The authors hide their names because they do not want to be captured by the government. But under military rule, most of the authors are from Intelligence units and they hide their real names because they do not want the people to know who they are and knowing that they are totally wrong.
   
   
5. None of the articles and news has been against the regime activities so far.