Government abolishes media censorship

In a dramatic move for freedom of speech, Burma’s government has announced it will no longer directly censor the media.

According to the new rules, journalists will not have to submit work to state sensors prior to publication, as they have been required to do for nearly half a century.

The announcement was made to a group of editors in Rangoon by the head of the ministry’s Press Scrutiny and Registration Department.

The government reserved the right to crack down on journalists or close publications that are a threat to national security.