Yangon ( AsiaNews / Agencies) -
This morning, dozens of Burmese journalists staged a public rally in Yangon,
the largest city of Myanmar, to protest against the prison sentence imposed on
one of their colleagues who was working on a story about corruption. Street
demonstrations, especially involving media and press, are a rare occurrence in
the former Burma, nation governed for over 50 years by a ferocious military
dictatorship and, since 2011, engaged in a long process of democratic reforms.
The
journalists - more than 60 according to local sources - carried signs and
banners through the streets of the commercial capital of Myanmar, branding Daily
Eleven reporter, Ma Khine's sentencing to three months in prison as
illegitimate and contrary to human rights. The
judgement was issued by a court in Karenni State , in the eastern part of the
country. Last
month she was indicted for breaking and entering, offensive language and
defamation.
The
demonstrators wore black T-shirts and chanted slogans such as: "No threats
to press freedom". Among
the banners was one that read: "The right to information is vital to a
democracy."
Ma
Khine is the first journalist sentenced under President Thein Sein , the woman was
sued by a lawyer , after visiting his home for a scheduled interview linked to
a case of corruption. The
offical was annoyed by the reporters' questions and invited her to leave the
apartment, a few days later he filed a lawsuit against her. The
judge could impose a fine, says the director of Daily Eleven Wai Phyo , but has
" deliberately imposed a prison sentence threatening not only reporters ,
but also the principle of press freedom".
In
recent years, newspapers and journalists in Myanmar have gained greater freedom
than in the past, during the military dictatorship, thanks to a path of economic,
social and political reforms set by President Thein Sein. He
also removed a great deal of censorship and allowed the publication of private
media organizations, for the first time in over 50 years.
Previously
reporters were forced to work in the midst of prohibitions and impositions that
were among the most restrictive in the world: daily surveillance, monitoring of
all phone calls and communications, prior verification of their material. However,
even today some publications are subject to inspections, audits, and complaints,
in particular promoted by government agencies on the basis of the (alleged)
offense of "defamation " . Kyaw
Myint , secretary general of the Burma Press Association , took part in the
protest because - he said - " we do not want the sentencing of our colleague
to set a dangerous precedent ."