Burma, S.Africa...Britain? Intl press freedom team dispatched to UK for first time

Burma, S.Africa...Britain? Intl press freedom team dispatched to UK for first time
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Published time: November 10, 2013 19:24

A picture shows the offices of the Guardian newspaper in central London (AFP Photo/Andrew Cowie)

An ‘unprecedented’ international mission is to enter the UK in January amid increasing concern over the country’s press freedom laws. The global community is becoming unsettled by the idea of a Royal Charter to restrict press freedom.

The World Association of Newspaper and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) represents over 100 countries and 18,000 organizations, and is known for its press freedom campaigns in countries such as Burma, South Africa, and Mexico.

While typically examining the press restrictions in still-developing countries, the association is now expressing serious concern over Britain’s reputation, saying that it is sending the mission “in response to recent actions by the British government.”

The visit will mark the first time such an organization has visited the UK. The delegation will meet the government and opposition figures as well as media representatives.

“A press freedom mission to the United Kingdom is unprecedented and we cannot underestimate our concern for what is happening,” said Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of the Paris-based organization in a statement published on their website.

“It is rather difficult for the United Kingdom to lecture Sri Lanka and others about their press freedom record, when its own actions result in such widespread international condemnation,” he added.

Press freedom is to be a subject high on the agenda in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka which UK Prime Minister David Cameron will attend this week.

The mission is responding to actions regarded as divergent to press freedom guarantees – specifically the Royal Charter and associated legislation, but also in response to NSA leak discussions.

Since June, when NSA surveillance activities were first revealed, there has been increasing concern over whether it would cause state-sponsored press regulation and a crackdown on reporting political scandals.

“The mission is a direct response to recent actions widely seen as contrary to press freedom guarantees… and…will also include discussion of the criticism of The Guardian for its coverage of the revelations from former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden,” WAN-IFRA stated.

The crackdown on Guardian leaks has overshadowed restrictions placed on other papers in recent months. Alan Rusbridger, the editor of the Guardian, is to be questioned by British lawmakers next month over the publishing of intelligence files leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, after UK spy chiefs warned that it had damaged national security.

Cameron has said that if The Guardian cannot be trusted to protect issues of national security then the government will be forced to issue a ‘D notice’ to force them not to publish any further intelligence revelations.

British media is currently mourning the legal plans which it says will “mark the end to 300 years of a free press” through politicians “having a say in what can be printed,” as it was denounced in tabloid the Daily Mirror.

The Royal Charter was devised with the intention of establishing a landmark new system of press regulation, causing an uproar among politicians, journalists and media personalities alike. Some have been avid defenders, and others say that it will amount to censorship. The charter itself was sealed by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on October 30, after an application to prevent the charter getting the royal seal of approval was dismissed.

Discussions of the Royal Charter emerged after a widespread practice of phone-hacking was revealed by several large newspapers and media companies. Among the targets were Royal Family members and relatives of the 7/7 bombings.

The Leveson Inquiry was set up in November 2012 to examine how the press had ‘wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people’.

RT – News

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Burma marks uprising anniversary

8 August 2013 Last updated at 02:04 ET

Thousands of veterans have returned to Yangon to mark the anniversary

Continue reading the main story

• Q&A: Communal violence


• EU lifts sanctions against Burma


• What’s behind violence?


• Will opposition adapt?

Public commemorations are taking place in Burma to mark the 25th anniversary of the uprisings which launched the country’s pro-democracy movement.

It is the first time the anniversary has been openly commemorated in Rangoon, also known as Yangon.

Hundreds of thousands took part in the protests, which began on 8 August 1988.

But six weeks later, at least 3,000 protesters were dead, thousands more were jailed and the military was firmly back in control.

During the 1988 protests, Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as the leader of the pro-democracy movement in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

Ms Suu Kyi, who is now the opposition leader, was expected to give a speech as part of the commemorations.

Photo exhibitions and performances in mock prison cells have been organised to depict events during the uprising and the crackdown that followed.

The current reformist government has tacitly approved this memorial, even though some of the former generals serving in it are implicated in the violence, the BBC’s Jonathan Head reports from Rangoon.

A nominally civilian government took power in Burma after elections in November 2010 that ended military rule.

The new administration, led by President Thein Sein, has introduced a series of political and economic reforms, including the release of many political prisoners and the relaxing of media censorship.

Most sanctions against Burma have now been relaxed in response to the changes.

BBC News – Asia

Burma marks uprising anniversary

Coca-Cola plant opens in Burma

4 June 2013 Last updated at 12:45 ET

Coca-Cola now operates in every country apart from North Korea and Cuba.

Coca-Cola has opened a bottling plant in Burma – the first time it has had a production facility there for more than 60 years.

The world’s largest soft-drink maker is one of the first US firms to invest in Burma following Washington’s decision to suspend sanctions against the country.

Coca-Cola has pledged to invest $ 200 million, and create thousands of jobs.

There are now only two countries where the company does not do business.

It left Cuba after the revolution, when Fidel Castro’s government began seizing private assets, and it has never operated in North Korea.

At the opening ceremony for the plant, in a Rangoon suburb, the company said it would directly create 2,500 jobs in Burma over the next five years.

“In time we expect to create more than 20,000 job opportunities, directly and indirectly, in this great nation,” said Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola chief executive.

From 1962 to 2011, Burma was ruled by a military junta that suppressed almost all dissent. Most US investment was banned after Washington applied economic sanctions.

But since reforms by President Thein Sein’s government two years ago, many international companies have become interested in potential investment in the country.

BBC News – Asia

Coca-Cola plant opens in Burma

Japan announces fresh aid to Burma

26 May 2013 Last updated at 07:36 ET

Mr Abe and Burmese President Thein Sein drank to the warm ties between their countries

Continue reading the main story

• Q&A: Communal violence


• EU lifts sanctions against Burma


• What’s behind violence?


• Will opposition adapt?

Japan has announced fresh loans to Burma and cancelled the remainder of its debt with the country, as Tokyo seeks to boost economic ties.

The announcement came during a visit by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to Burma, where he had talks with President Thein Sein.

Mt Abe pledged about $ 500m (£330m) in new loans and wrote off $ 1.74bn of Burma’s debt to Japan, officials said.

Japan, a key donor to Burma, maintained trade ties with the country during its years of military rule.

Correspondents say Mr Abe’s visit – the first visit by a Japanese prime minister since 1977 – marks a further improvement in already warm relations.

Last year Tokyo cancelled $ 3.4bn of Burma’s debt. Saturday’s announcement means the outstanding debt has been written off as well.

The new loans will cover infrastructure development projects and power station maintenance.

On Saturday Mr Abe visited the site of a proposed port and business park which Japan and Burma are to develop jointly.

He also met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Burma has undergone a programme of reforms since a nominally civilian government was installed in 2011.

Hundreds of political prisoners have been released, and censorship rules have been relaxed. The EU and US have lifted the majority of sanctions against Burma as a result.

However, Burma has experienced serious anti-Muslim violence in recent months.

BBC News – Asia

Japan announces fresh aid to Burma