03.09.2006
Burma Digest Catalogue & Gallery
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Press Scrutinizing in Burma
_ by Sarpay japoe
Press Scrutinizing and Registration Dept. under the Ministry of Interior is so notorious for its censorship that most publishers who love Press freedom eventually have to choose other businesses they do not like. In fact, publishers cannot disseminate to the people freedom of thoughts and expression contributed by Burmese writers, cartoonists and artists. The press scrutinizing (sarpay sisitye) is also notorious for taking bribe from publishers apart from their monthly allotment (like protection money) of books given by the publishers. A publisher is forced to give in a total of 60 copies each month just to get for a publication rights.
One copy for a magazine costs ranging from Kyats 500 to 2000. The copies go to Scrutinizing Officers and staffs of the department. Even a sanitation worker also gets his quota every month. The copies are later go to book sellers who have secretly contracted with the department. When the books are turned into money then it is shared. The department only accepts the books because if they take cash from each publisher they feel that is taking bribe from them. Hundreds of book is published each month in Burma.
How funny the department has the slogan "Taking bribe from publishers is prohibited". Words of warning are printed on the paper and the papers are stick on the wall of every branch. Some people joke with this and they say this department has issued "Pokemart Lay" meaning Act 4. But for Burmese it has a meaning. Payma Loke. Without bribe the staff or the scrutinizing officers will put aside your application for distribution rights of your magazine, journal or any sort of books.
So, in publishing and distribution for your book you need to pass two hindrances. One is censorship and the other is protection money in the form of numerous copies of your magazines or book. The junta has laid down its policy to ban all kinds of books and literatures that will lead to freedom of expression and thoughts. Thereby, books and magazines that come out every month are not serious ones. It has lacked of press freedom. It is no more than entertainment subjects interlude with propaganda articles of the junta.
The junta is afraid of two things on earth. One is a person. A lady, the opposition leader. Her name is Aung San Suu Kyi. And the other is publications of local publishers and freedom writers. They know that if they release these two things they will become a piece of dung.
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