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    October 08, 2011

Burma Censorship Chief Calls for Press Freedom

   VOA News
   A man at a market in Rangoon, shows a People's Age private journal
   featuring an article written by Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San
   Suu Kyi, September 6, 2011. Photo: Reuters
   A man at a market in Rangoon, shows a People's Age private journal
   featuring an article written by Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San
   Suu Kyi, September 6, 2011.

   The chief of Burma's state censorship body has called for press freedom
   in the repressive nation, even suggesting his own department should be
   shut down.
   Tint Swe, director of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Department,
   told Radio Free Asia Friday that censorship should be abolished as part
   of the reforms by the new army-dominated civilian government.
   He said it is just a matter of time before all publications are free
   from any kind of censorship and for the first time, private groups
   would be allowed to establish daily newspapers under a new media law, a
   draft of which is before parliament.
   Last month, Burmese authorities lifted a longstanding ban on
   international news websites, exiled Burmese news websites and YouTube.
   However, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says state
   censors are still actively killing news stories and there is pervasive
   state surveillance of reporters, with at least 14 journalists and media
   support workers behind bars.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP.