Officials tell foreign media what they can and can't do

Bangkokpost, Published: 29/03/2012 at 02:05 AM ...

YANGONInternational observers are to be briefed by the Myanmar Foreign Ministry as to how they will be conducting the by-elections this Sunday.

Myanmar has shunned the independent observers but welcomed official observers arranged by designated countries, and the foreign minister will meet and greet nearly 100 people in Yangon today.

Officials said he will explain how election laws are to be observed and where they can monitor.

Thailand's observer delegation was led by Kamphee Dita-korn, deputy secretary-general of the Parliament Office.

He heads a team of two media experts from Radio Parliament, an external relations official for the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Organisation, three media personnel from the MCOT, and three Foreign Ministry officials.

A delegation of the Asean Secretariat, led by Director of External Relations Mely Anthony, will also be accompanied by a group of media personnel from the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS), Asean Today/Metro TV (Indonesia) and Channel News Asia (Singapore).

At Yangon airport, there was a long queue waiting for immigration stamps along with tourists, who are arriving in greater numbers.

A sign informing foreign journalists to register at a separate counter was erected yesterday near immigration. Some seven pages were posted for the reporters to check if the Ministry of Information had their press cards.

However, some journalists did not find their names but were allowed to give their details for future contact.

An Asean sources said Myanmar has accredited half of the 600 foreign media who applied to cover the election.

A six-page guideline for foreign journalist was handed out at the airport upon arrival. The Ministry of Information stated in the document it could revoke accreditation of any foreign media that failed to observe the election laws.

The Hluttaw Election Laws and Rules include ''preventing leakage of any matter except from data and information permitted to be released''.

Media can film the polling booths from afar but are not allowed inside the marking booth. They can also observe the vote counting. A media card must be worn during the shooting and they must refrain from holding discussions or interviews that would amount to support for or opposition to a political party or a candidate.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/286458/officials-tell-foreign-media-what-they-can-and-can-t-do