Myanmar ends media censorship

Myanmar has abolished censorship of its media, the latest in a series of sweeping reforms. The information ministry announced earlier today that journalists no longer had to submit their work to state censors.

Pre-publication censorship -- applied in the past to everything from newspapers to song lyrics and even fairy tales -- was one of the hallmarks of military rule. The civilian government has gradually been easing restrictions since it took office last year.

"Censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years and two weeks later," Tint Swe, head of the Press Scrutiny and Registration Department told the AFP news agency. However, a ministry official said films would still be subject to state censorship.

Blocks on 30,000 internet sites have also been lifted, giving users unrestricted access to political content for the first time.

Since taking office last year, President Thein Sein, a former general, has overseen dramatic changes such as the release of hundreds of political prisoners and the election of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to parliament.

(C)ANP/AFP