An award winning Burmese journalist has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly working for a foreign news service without prior permission. The Irish Times online reports the story.
Ngwe Soe Lin, who reported for the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma, was convicted of violating immigration laws and the Electronics Act, according to the BBC, who also report his lawyer, Aung Thein, said there was no proof he had broken any law and would appeal against the conviction.
Most foreign journalists are banned in Burma and the state censors all media. In the context of recent events, the issue of censorship is a serious one and threats, both implied, implicit and explicit, especially from those in positions of power. Threats to press freedom are common, all too common in places like Burma. As journalists we must fight censorship, no matter what the cost: personal, professional or otherwise. TF
I notice that there isn't a name on this post. That goes against the point you are trying to make. As a journalist you should not be afraid to have your name on anything you write. If someone challenges you on the content of your writing tell them;
ReplyDelete“I have the ultimate defence, the truth.”
RG
Oversight rather than by design. Problem has been rectified. TF
ReplyDeleteEveryone should read the rubbish this man throws on pages if only to see how out of touch he actually is...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0129/1224263355117.html
Oh that article made me angry...
ReplyDeleteOW
So we are all being tarnished with the same brush- I wonder who he is related to. He never heard of ethics, the PCI code or legislation I gather. Would he rather us not to act as the public watchdog? In every walk of life there is malpractice. He said it himself-we are weak and frail. I wonder who gave him a backhander.
ReplyDeleteD.K
In terms of censorship there was an interesting story in Canada about a year ago now (maybe more) wherein a Canadian journalist, Mark Steyn, had a chapter of his book published in Maclean's magazine and was severely criticized for it and legal action was taken.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not you agree that Steyn is xenophobic, the actions taken against him in order to shut him up are nothing short of outrageous.
BW