News needs to be clean and correct, says Myanmar Military Commander-in-Chief

04 May 2019
News needs to be clean and correct, says Myanmar Military Commander-in-Chief
Myanmar's military Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo/EPA

Myanmar Military Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that it’s important the news stories which are being read on a daily basis by the public need to be clean and correct.

The Senior General was speaking on World Press Freedom Day which falls on 3 May.

“News stories have the strength which can influence and have impact on the knowledge, thoughts and wisdom of all human beings so that they can be assumed to be our daily diet of wisdom,” Senior General  Min Aung Hlaing said.

He further said that though there is the right to freedom of expression under article 19 of Universal Human Rights Declaration (UDHR) it must be noted that this article shall be read with article 29 of said declaration which stipulates ‘In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society’ so that this right must be exercised within these limitations and restrictions.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing also said in his felicitation that in the 2008 Constitution there is stipulation for the exercising of freedom of expression and freedom of publication but they must not be contrary to the laws enacted and promulgated for the security of the State, rule of law, maintaining law and order or laws related to the moral conduct of the people.

Thus the media which is the Fourth Estate in the country must stand as a reliable source for news which should be compatible with freedom, correctness, fairness and the laws.