Media Censorship

Media Censorship

Media censorship by the Burmese military regime severely restricts access to unbiased information for the people of Burma. State-monopoly radio and television closely control all broadcast media, and the junta's Press Scrutiny Board orders articles even slightly critical of the regime to be inked over or torn from offending issues. Consequently, the heavily censored media finds itself unable to report accurately or honestly on the on-going struggle for political change within the country. The junta does not give accreditation to foreign photographers, and reporters work under extremely restrictive conditions. Only a few foreign news agencies operating in Burma have fax machines and e-mail; furthermore, they lack internet access and permission to own photocopiers.

Political Parties Restricted

The regime deregistered most political parties in Burma quite some time ago. Of those parties remaining registered, the junta has allowed some to open offices, but restrictions on their activities remain enormous. Parties are not allowed to operate photocopiers, mimeographs or fax machines--all requiring government licenses--and their office telephone lines are often disconnected. Parties can hold monthly meetings in official premises, but public gatherings require prior permission. Top officials for the National League for Democracy (NLD), Burma's democratic opposition political party, find themselves subject to systematic surveillance by military intelligence personnel.

Restricted Internet Access

If you received this information through the internet or e-mail, you have access to media, information and communication through a medium virtually unknown to the population of Burma. As of September 2000, internet connections were legal only for the junta, a few large businesses and for tourist offices. In 2002, Burma had only 10,000 internet users, about 0.02% of the country's 54.2 million people.

Communication Statistics

In addition, the junta has limited other forms of communication, as apparent in Burma's communication statistics. In 2000, Burma had only 250,000 telephone lines in use, and in 1997, 8,492 mobile phones. The country contained 4.2 million radios in 1997, offering 8 radio broadcast stations as of 1998 including 2 AM, 3 FM and 3 short-wave. In 2000, the Burmese people had 320,000 televisions with 2 television broadcast stations as of 1998. In 1993, Burma had 2 daily newspapers with a total circulation of 414,000.

Questions

1. What is media censorship, why is it a problem in Burma and how might Burma be different today without this problem?

2. What policies and actions can the regime take to solve the media censorship problem?

3. Why do state-monopoly radio and television closely control all broadcast media, what effect does this have on access to unbiased information and what might happen if Burma had a more free press?

4. How and why do news reporters work under extremely restrictive conditions, how does this affect the accuracy of news reporting and what might happen if these restrictions did not exist?

5. Why does the regime limit access to the internet, e-mail, fax machines and photocopiers for news agencies, how does this affect their work and what might happen if these restrictions did not exist?

6. What is the explanation behind Burma's communication statistics, and what do they reveal about the country's communication situation?

7. Why does the regime limit access to the internet, e-mail, telephone, radio, television and newspaper for the Burmese people and how might Burma be different today if they did not?

8. Why did the regime deregister most political parties in Burma and heavily restrict the activities of those parties remaining registered, and what might happen if they did not?

9. Why are political parties not allowed to operate photocopiers, mimeographs or fax machines, why are their office telephone lines often disconnected and what might happen if these conditions were improved?

10. Why do top officials for the NLD find themselves subject to systematic surveillance by military intelligence personnel?

Activities

1. Complete an assignment on media and communication censorship in Burma. Devise policies and actions the Burmese regime can now implement to resolve the censorship problem. Devise counterfactual scenarios for how Burma might be different today without censorship. Compare and contrast Burmese censorship with that of another country, and media and communication statistics and issues in your own country.

2. Complete an assignment on the restrictive conditions news reporters work under. Examine how the regime limits access to the internet, e-mail, fax machines and photocopiers for news agencies. Devise policies and actions the Burmese regime can now implement to better the working conditions of news reporters and agencies, including possible results. Devise counterfactual scenarios for how Burma might be different today with a more free press.

3. Complete an assignment on the regime's limiting of access to the internet, e-mail, telephone, radio, television and newspaper for the Burmese people. Devise policies and actions the Burmese regime can now implement to resolve this problem. Devise counterfactual scenarios for how Burma might be different today with more available access to these media.

4. Complete an assignment on the functioning of political parties in Burma under the heavy restrictions on their activities. Examine how political parties are not allowed to operate photocopiers, mimeographs or fax machines, their office telephone lines are often disconnected and top officials for the NLD are subject to systematic surveillance by military intelligence personnel. Devise policies and actions the Burmese regime can now implement to resolve this problem. Devise counterfactual scenarios for how Burma might be different today if political parties were allowed to function freely.

5. Organise classroom discussion and debate representing both sides of media and communication censorship in Burma.

6. Complete an assignment on global media and communication statistics and campaigns.

Web Sites

For further information on the incidence of media censorship in Burma, please visit our Links Page

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Last Modified: Sunday, 22-Apr-2007 16:20:22 EST
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