Statement by Independent Media

25 February 2021
Statement by Independent Media

25 February, 2021

1. The following news media issue this statement since the notices sent by the Ministry of Information to news media after the Tatmadaw mounted coup on February 1, 2021 are undermining the freedom of expression of news media.

2. In the notices sent to news media on 13th and 23rd February, it was mentioned that news media should not use the terms such as ‘coup government’, ‘military regime’ and ‘military council’ because the Tatmadaw is taking the responsibility of the state by declaring an emergency of state in accordance with the 2008 Constitution.

3. The notices sent to news media by the Ministry of Information under the military coup council, which says it is currently in control of three branches of power of the state in accordance with the 2008 Constitution, contradict the news media’s rights to report and broadcast freely given under the provisions of Article 354 (A) of the 2008 Constitution and Article 4 (A) of News Media Law.

4. The following news media firmly stand for the rights to freely report and broadcast mentioned in the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

5. As free and independent media, we state clearly that we will continue writing and broadcasting contents, terms and usages freely in the future in accordance with the news media ethics.