CHIANG MAI- March 5. SHAN in collaboration with Burma News International (BNI) held the second ethnic media conference in the Shan State capital Taunggyi. The conference started on March 4 and is scheduled to end on March 6, 2014.

There were over 300 participants, including Shan State Chief Minister Sao Aung Myat, Deputy Minister of Information U Pike Htwe, and also political parties, civil society organizations and journalists from various agencies.

U Pike Htwe said, “The central government follows the constitution and provides freedom of expression; there is no more censorship. So far, there are over 300 journals registered and have got permits, and 9 journals in ethnic languages.”

However, Sai Hark Khur, an ethnic reporter said, “Ethnic media do not have full freedom of expression. For instance, when registering, the news agency has to sign a paper, saying they take responsibility for every word in the newspaper or journal they publish.

Furthermore, the authorities ask for ethnic publications to be translated into Burmese for them.”
According to BNI secretary Khin Maung Shwe, the conference was scheduled to discuss development of democratic media, women and media, and ethnic media.

The first ethnic media conference was held in Mawlamyine, Mon State, in April last year.