BURMA / CENSORSHIP

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=4/14/99

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-248034

TITLE=BURMA / CENSORSHIP (L ONLY)

BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


///  ED'S: THIS REPORT IS EMBARGOED FOR USE AT 0100 UTC THURSDAY,

              APRIL 15TH  (9 PM EDT WEDNESDAY)  ///


INTRO:  THE LONDON-BASED  INTERNATIONAL CENTER AGAINST CENSORSHIP

-- KNOWN AS ARTICLE 19 -- HAS ISSUED A REPORT CONDEMNING BURMA'S 

CONTINUING ABUSE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.  

V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON


TEXT:  THE ARTICLE 19 REPORT ON BURMA LISTS A WIDE RANGE OF WHAT 

IT CALLS VIOLATIONS OF BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS BY A SUCCESSION OF 

MILITARY GOVERNMENTS.   THE ABUSES RANGE FROM CENSORSHIP OF THE 

MEDIA, BOOKS, SONG LYRICS, AND MOVIES, AND RESTRICTIONS ON 

COMPUTER USE TO THE HARASSMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS OF MILITARY

RULE. 


AN EDITOR OF THE REPORT,MALCOLM SMART,  SAYS THE CASE OF 

OPPOSITION LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.


                     ///  SMART ACT ONE  ///


         THE BURMESE MILITARY REGIME OPERATES ONE OF THE MOST 

         STRICT AND SEVERE CENSORSHIP REGIMES, WHICH HAS REALLY 

         STUNTED THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC 

         DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.


                        ///  END ACT  ///


MR. SMART SAYS IT IS TIME FOR BURMA'S NEIGHBORS TO PRESSURE THE 

MILITARY RULERS TO END THE REPRESSION THERE.


                     ///  SMART ACT TWO  ///


         AND WE'RE LOOKING PARTICULARLY TO OBVIOUSLY THE WESTERN 

         DEMOCRACIES, BUT ALSO TO COUNTRIES IN THE REGION -- THE 

         ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS, WHICH RECENTLY 

         ADMITTED BURMA TO ITS ASSOCIATION.  THIS SENT THE WRONG 

         SIGNAL, WE THINK, TO THE GENERALS. AND THE ASEAN 

         COUNTRIES TOO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. 


                       ///  END ACT  /// 


ARTICLE 19'S 43-PAGE REPORT ON CENSORSHIP IN BURMA, CALLED ACTS 

OF OPPRESSION, COINCIDES WITH THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 

REVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN BURMA .(SIGNED)


NEB/LMK/JWH


//////  ED'S:  NOTE EMBARGO -- 0100 U-T-C THURSDAY, APRIL 15TH  

                  (9 PM EDT WEDNESDAY)  //////


14-Apr-99 1:56 PM EDT (1756 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America