Myanmar: Press bill falls far short of international law and would leave press open to abuse-BURMESE /ENGLISH
The press bill published on Wednesday in state-run media is deceitful, undermines the right to free expression, gives the appearance that the information ministry has power over the drafting of the media law and revives the draconian 1962 Press Act, which allowed journalists to be imprisoned for up to seven years, Eleven Media Group said today in a statement calling on journalists and their associations to denounce the draft law.
The press bill released by the Ministry of Information interfered in the drafting process currently underway by the Press Council, which was formed by the government with the task of drafting the law, the statement said.
Eleven Media called on all media groups and journalists to strongly oppose the bill published in state-run media yesterday and to only accept the media law currently being drafted by the press council.
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