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January 16, 2013
Ownership of daily newspapers is still a major dilemma in Burma
By Zin Linn
Some observers are worried that the media industry may also be fallen into the hands of the military's cronies who get in the way of free-market reform process. If the cronies monopolized the majority ownership of the media trade, there may not be free, fair and healthy competition through the media industry sector.
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Burma's state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar published an article Monday flattering the current situation of media realm of the country as "A golden age of Myanmar's media', written by Su Thabyay Naing. The author also predicts the certain emergence of dailies in Burma in April.The author, Su Thabyay Naing, who seems to be on behalf of the authorities, finally advised that the journalists should abide by codes of conduct in order to set up a brighter future for the country's media sphere. His suggestion is probably a warning exactly in line with the government's policy of disciplined democracy.
However, Win Tin, a veteran journalist and former editor-in-chief of Hanthawady Daily, told the Eleven Media Group (EMG) concerning the private dailies last November.
He said, "The government talked about the publication of private newspapers variously. In that regard, the time has come to publish private newspapers. If possible, state-run newspapers should not exist. Even the Kyemon (Mirror) and Myanma Alin newspapers must be privatized. This is my opinion. Private newspapers must emerge. State-run newspapers should not exist," he criticized strongly.
So, another question emerges that to whom the daily papers will be allowed to publish as the business needs human resources, financial investments and skillfulness for competent distribution. Some observers are worried that the media industry may also be fallen into the hands of the military's cronies who get in the way of free-market reform process. If the cronies monopolized the majority ownership of the media trade, there may not be free, fair and healthy competition through the media industry sector.
Zin Linn was born on February 9, 1946 in a small town in Mandalay Division. He began writing poems in 1960 and received a B.A (Philosophy) in 1976.
He became an activist in the High School Union after the students' massacre on 7th July 1962. He then took on a role as an active member in the Rangoon Division Students' Union. He Participated in a poster-and-pamphlet campaign on the 4th anniversary of 7 July movement and went into hiding to keep away from the military police. He was still able to carry out underground pamphlet campaigns against the Burmese Socialist Programme Party ( BSPP). However, in 1982, he fell into the hands of MI and served two years imprisonment in the notorious Insein prison.
In 1988 he took part, together with his old students' union members, in the People's Democracy Uprising. In November of that year, he became an NLD Executive Committee Member for the Thingangyun Township and later became superintendent of the NLD Rangoon Division Office.
In 1991, he was arrested because of his connections with the exiled government, the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB), and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison. In last week of December 1997 he was released.
Zin Linn was an editor and columnist and contributed articles to various publications, especially on international affairs, while in Burma.
He fled Burma in 2001 to escape from military intelligence and worked as information director for the NCGUB from 2001 to 2012. He is also vice president of the Burma Media Association which is affiliated with the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers. Zin Linn is still writing articles and commentaries in Burmese and English in various periodicals and online journals on a regular basis.