Mizzima recently got hold of a copy of a confidential document detailing the plan of the Burmese junta's information minister to improve the dissemination of information from various government agencies.
The following is an excerpt of a circular issued by the Information Ministry to all government ministries on the management of news and other sensitive information.
"…2. In this IT age, tactful 'pre-emptive' action taken by governmental departments in releasing their news is better than the total control and blackout of the said news…
"…3. The private media conducts its coverage of the government departments by gathering information by all possible means and writing commentaries and features when they cannot get official news from the departments concerned. In these cases, the departments concerned frequently issued objections, elaborations and clarifications. Sometimes they have to take action against the media in such instances...
"…(a) In the press censorship policy adopted, positive writing on government departmental news has been allowed. Thus, the government departments should understand this situation to some extent and should cooperate with the private media for the benefit of their respective departments…
"…(b) Since the people want to know the progress of work being performed by the government departments, they should form an information committee for the occasional release of official news on the work being conducted by them for the benefit of state and people. In this way, the people can get in-depth information on what work is being done for the long-term benefit of the state and people, their progress, their future plans, etc. By doing these, the people will cooperate more with the government departments. The people will appreciate the transparency of the state whenever they see this occasional news released officially by the government departments. It will also deter rumors being circulated among the people. Government departments can release this official news either by inviting media themselves or through our Information Ministry. At present, the Yangon (Rangoon) City Development Committee (YCDC) and People's Police Force (PPF) have established their own press committees for the release of official news through these committees. Thus, the media can easily get the official, confirmed news from them and cover this news in their media. This system is found to be successful and functioning smoothly…
"…(c) If the departments concerned have some news which is to be withheld, concealed, and censored and not to be circulated publicly to the people, they should send a written request to the Information Ministry ahead of time. The ministry will then control the release of this news in desired form by using appropriate means. Therefore, the ministries should coordinate with us in releasing information from time to time in accordance with their needs…
"…(d) Moreover, the ministries should have 'contact points' concerning the media for the verification, confirmation and clarification of official news released by the ministries and departments."
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Mizzima News (http://www.mizzima.com/) is a news organization headquartered in New Delhi, India, run by exiled Burmese journalists. A SEAPA partner, it aims to promote awareness about the situation in Burma and promote democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
