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SLORC/AFP: SLORC lectures journalis



Subject: SLORC/AFP: SLORC lectures journalists--two views

Subject: Journalists Warned-Myanmar TV and AFP reports 
Rangoon -- TV Myanmar Network in Burmese 1330 GMT July 11, 1996 (same 
report appeared next day in New Light of Mynamar):

Translated Text:   Major General Aye Kyaw, minister of information, held 
a cordial meeting with foreign correspondents [note:  Burmese stringers 
for foreign news organizations] of Myanmar [Burma] at 1000 this morning 
at the conference hall of the Office of the Minister of Information on Bo 
Aung Kyaw Street in Yangon [Rangoon].  He spoke and discussed matters 
related to information.  Minister Maj.  Gen.  Aye Kyaw said following its 
assumption of state responsibilities, the government systematically 
formed the Foreign Correspondents Club of Myanmar [Burma] [FCCM] and made 
arrangements for their office.  He said the government recognized the 
club and conducted relations with it with respect.  The organization has 
been invited to attend state functions and arrangements were made for the 
foreign correspondents to freely report to their respective news 
agencies.  He said it is known to all how the authorities recognized the 
foreign correspondents.

He said the unique feature of the FCCM is that except for XINHUA 
correspondent, Mr. (Zhou Yung Pei), all foreign correspondents are 
Myanmar citizens.  He noted in other countries, foreign correspendents 
are foreigners who have no attachment to the countries they are assigned 
to and are loyal only to their own country.  Maj.  Gen. Aye Kyaw said 
since foreign correspondents are Myanmar citizens it is necessary that 
they be patriotic.  However, he said, the action of some journalists from 
the foreign news agencies have created some misunderstanding.  He said we 
are relentlessly working night and day to develop the country into a 
modern and developed nation according to the 12 set objectives.  He said 
it is necessary to have a clear and unbiased outlook free of subjectivity 
toward the works of the State Law and Order Restoration Council and to be 
patriotic.

He said no investigations have been carried out on the subjective work of 
some foreign correspondents.  However, he said we are aware of who they 
are.  He said he believed that members of the FCCM -- a unique 
organization formed by Myanmar citizens -- would shoulder their 
responsibilities objectively.  He called on the correspondents to discuss 
their needs, and weaknesses and strengths in collecting and dispatching 
news.

Next, U Sein Win, chairman of the FCCM and foreign correspondents who 
were present at the meeting presented their views on gathering and 
dispatching news.  The meeting ended at 1115 after Information Minister 
Maj.  Gen.  Aye Kyaw replied on the points raised at the meeting.

End TV Myanmar text.


[Hong Kong AFP in English at on July 11 in a Rangoon datelined report, 
adds the following: 

Meeting with 17 local members of the Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC), 
Aye Kyaw said he deplored what he called biased reports sent by members 
based on false accusations against the government by the opposition.  He 
accused opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi of using the whole spectrum of 
the foreign media to attack the military government and warned there was 
limit to its patience.  He did not elaborate.  

Aye Kyaw added that there was no need for dialogue with the opposition, 
which Aung San Suu Kyi has repeatedly demanded since her release from six 
years of house arrest a year ago.
    "'Why do we need a dialogue when there is a National 
Convention...which is the platform for dialogue," he said.  "There's no 
need to discuss anything with us."
"You will not be doing your duty as a citizen if you write about things 
that are not true," he said, urging the journalists to report accurately 
on the situation in Burma and give credit where it was due.
Aye Kyaw said the military, despite facing numerous obstacles, was 
committed to turning Burma into a peaceful, modern and developed state 
where multi-party democracy prevailed.
"We have laid down clearly defined political, economic and social 
objectives...and as a disciplined and well-trained insitution... we know 
exactly what to do and how to go about it," he said.
Burma today, the general said, was seeing spectacular changes and 
enjoying peace and stability as never before.
"We are determined to maintain this state of affairs and will see to it 
that this is not jeopardized in any way by confrontations, demonstrations 
or attempts to get people onto the streets," he said.

End AFP text]