“MYANMAR: AUTHORITARIAN MEDIA CRISIS” (2023)

“The free press is needed by the government, the government which dreams of the prestige which it builds upon mined ground.”

-Dr. Jose Rizal

MYANMAR 

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has a military form of government due to the coup d’état on September 18, 1988. Thus, the power rests on a singular party under the military officials. Last February 2021, the military seized the authority by imprisoning their prime minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. The vice president Myint We, a former military officer, took over the presidency that allowed him to declare state of emergency and suspend legislative houses. Hence, with the state of emergency the armed forces are in full power and authority in handling the whole country. (Britannica, 2023)

AUTHORITARIAN MEDIA CRISIS 

In 2011, gradual ease of strict state controls was seen in Myanmar’s media. In 2016, the democratically elected government did not prioritize the proliferation of freedom in media. In 2021, after the military coup, the government is in full-control of the main broadcasters and publications, and reimposed strict censorship in media. (BBC News, 2023).

Myint We, the acting president, imposed internet and telecommunications shutdown in the whole country. The media are prohibited to “mentioning false data”, “joining or favoring the National League for Democracy (NLD)” and “interfering with the internal affairs of state or politics.” Failing to comply will result to imprisonment for five years or worst death. The mass arrest of media workers, continuous ban, harassment, and threat to independent media outlets, and death of two journalists who documented anti-coup protests are the crises that the media of Myanmar face because of an authoritative figure. (Amnesty International, 2022)

Since the Myanmar is controlled by the military, the acting president and the Army imposed internet and telecommunications shutdown. (Amnesty International, 2022) Thus, disconnecting the state from media, TV, and radios. Local phone lines and internet are also disabled across the country. (Burmese Reuters journalist Wa Lone. BBC News, 2021)

During the peak of the crisis in 2021, a video circulated online that shows the same man in the different costumes and make up being interviewed by media to show that Myanmar is not experiencing turmoil, war, and inequality. Unfortunately, the video is taken down in social media by their government to erase the point of view that they are directly manipulating their media through fake interviews.

PRESS FREEDOM

Media’s role in the society is to disseminate information that are factual, relevant, and unbiased. When media is silenced, controlled, and threatened, the public is deprived of their right to access news that is free from manipulation. 

Myanmar’s devastating crisis in media, economy, and society is the result of the hungry-power, inhumane leaders and officials. The country continues to face the crisis head-on as the military junta (leader) continues to plant seeds of threat, death, and fear among its constituents. 

The Authoritative philosophy in media is limiting the freedom of speech not only of media, but of the ordinary citizens as well. Dr. Jose Rizal expounded on the integral role of freedom of speech in which he said, “The free press is needed by the government, the government which dreams of the prestige which it builds upon mined ground.” A country should not control its citizens. A country should serve its people. Communication is imperative to govern; without it everything will be disorganized.

Prayers for Myanmar as they battle the crisis in their country.

May the Burmese be freed from the leash of an authoritative leader.

REFERENCES

 Amnesty International. (n.d.). Human rights in Myanmar. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asiaand-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/myanmar/report-myanmar/

 BBC News. (2023, May 11). Myanmar country profile. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/worldasia-pacific-12990563

 Giles, B. C. (2021, February 4). Myanmar coup: How the military disrupted the internet. BBC News. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55889565

 Myanmar | History, Map, Flag, Population, Capital, Language, & Facts. (2023, May 15). 

Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Myanmar/The-initial-impact-ofcolonialis