MEETINGS WITH PRESS SCRUTINY BOARD AND MINISTRY OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000035 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR EAID PREL CVIS CASC UNGA BM KPAO SUBJECT: MEETINGS WITH PRESS SCRUTINY BOARD AND MINISTRY OF EDUCATION REF: 08 RANGOON 951 Classified By: APAO Drake Weisert for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) PAO and APAO discussed possible training opportunities in journalism and English in separate meetings with the Director of the Press Scrutiny (read censorship) Board and the Director General of the Department of Higher Education on January 13 in Rangoon. The Scrutiny Board continues to heavily censor the country's media outlets - including scrapping a recent interview by the Charge - and shows no signs of relaxing its controls. Nevertheless, officials from both agencies requested American trainers and educational materials, including for journalists. End Summary. Press Scrutiny Board: More Journalism Training -------------- - ¶2. (C) The Press Scrutiny Board is responsible for reviewing and approving all published material in Burma (more information on the Board will be sent septel). Director Tint Swe took over the office following the ouster of Prime Minister and Military Intelligence Chief Khin Nyunt in 2004. The Scrutiny Board under Tint Swe has continued to impose tight controls on the country's growing media market, particularly following the Saffron Revolution protests of ¶2007. During the January 13 meeting, Tint Swe told PAO that younger journalists in Burma lack the reporting skills of the older generation. He requested that the Embassy provide trainers for Burmese journalists, including at an upcoming 10-week workshop organized by the state-sponsored Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association. We made no commitment. He did not criticize our American Center journalism workshops and classes, but stressed that early notification of these programs will help to avoid undue suspicion by authorities. ¶3. (C) PAO inquired why the Scrutiny Board cut a newspaper interview with the Charge d'Affaires last month in a local Burmese weekly newspaper (topics included the presidential transition and bilateral relations.) Tint Swe replied the article was "delayed" because of pending approvals from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said that approval of future interviews would be smoother if the Foreign Ministry is informed prior to the interview. On Post's plan to distribute a Burmese translation of the IIP publication "Barack Obama: 44th President of the United States," Tint Swe assured us of prompt approval in time for an inauguration event at the American Center Wednesday morning. (Note: Burmese law requires Press Scrutiny Board approval for all publications with a print run of 100 copies or more. Post traditionally has sought approval for major USG-branded publications to be distributed widely at the American Center; to date such approvals have always been granted promptly.) When asked what publications he reads on a regular basis, Tint Swe, a retired Army major, named Military Science and Jane's Defense Weekly. Higher Education: More English Teachers and Materials -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) In a separate meeting on January 13, Education Ministry Department of Higher Education Director General Zaw Htay discussed Burma's only journalism school, located at the National Management University in Rangoon. The school recently completed its first year. It offers a three-year degree in journalism and accepts 50 students each year. Professors come from the Ministries of Education and Information. Zaw Htay encouraged us to visit the school and said he would welcome assistance in the form of trainers and teaching materials. ¶5. (C) Zaw Htay, who is a career civil servant, highlighted two other schools that are interested in receiving English training and materials: the Institute of Foreign Languages (located down the street from the Embassy) and the National Center for English Language, also near the Embassy. In addition, he asked us to help the Ministry of Education staff improve their English skills. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Disseminating accurate news and information in Burma remains a Mission priority and the goal of our journalism RANGOON 00000035 002 OF 002 training programs and our efforts to place more interviews in the burgeoning (but censored) private press. The Press Scrutiny Board will remain an obstacle in that regard, regardless of the generally welcoming message delivered by the director. We have no intention of informing the regime of our sensitive journalism training programs, but will explore whether new cooperation with the country's sole journalism school - which apparently provides reporters for a range of media outlets, both private and state-run - would serve a useful purpose. We will also reach out to the other schools suggested by the Higher Education DG. In his case, as with other mid-level officials we've met in the Ministries of Education, Culture, and Information (reftel),it appears concerns about interacting with the U.S. Embassy are outweighed by a desire for desperately-needed resources. DINGER