緬甸與聯合國共同討論新媒體法

In conjunction with the Burmese government, the United Nations' cultural agency staged the first meeting of a workshop examining the Burmese government's relationship with the media. In Rangoon, the joint workshop held by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and officials with Burma's Ministry of Information began with two days of discussions on proposed laws overseeing the press, publishing and printing. The draft law covering video broadcasting was later discussed in the capital, Naypyitaw. The main elements of the proposed laws include establishing an independent press council and broadcast council and a framework for new online media.

UNESCO says discussions focused on respecting international standards of freedom of expression as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Bambang Harymutri, an Indonesian media expert who facilitated the workshops for UNESCO, says Burma has the advantage of learning from the mistakes other nations have made in the field of media law and development. The new media laws are part of the efforts at democratic reforms undertaken by Burma's new military-backed government since replacing the long-standing military junta last year.聯合國文化機構與緬甸政府共同召集了審查緬甸政府與媒體關係的研討會的首次會議。在仰光，聯合國教科文組織和緬甸信息部官員主持的聯合研討會開始了爲期兩天的討論，主題是涉及新聞、出版、印刷的法律草案。有關錄像播放的法律草案晚些時候在緬甸首都內比都進行了討論。這些法律草案的要點包括成立獨立的新聞委員會、廣播委員會以及一個爲新網絡媒體設置的框架。

聯合國教科文組織說，討論的焦點是尊重聯合國人權宣言中提出的國際社會的言論自由標準。一位印度尼西亞媒體專家(Bambang Harymutri)說，緬甸的優勢在於可以從其他國家在制定媒體法律及其發展過程中所犯錯誤中吸取經驗教訓。由軍方支持的緬甸新政府自從去年取代長期執政的軍政府以來，在實行民主改革方面做出了努力，制定新媒體法是其組成部分。