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SLORC/AFP: SLORC lectures journalis
- Subject: SLORC/AFP: SLORC lectures journalis
- From: strider@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 15 Jul 1996 11:26:00
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]