The government and Tatmadaw have jointly launched a local offshoot of the True News and Information Committee in Mon State, according to journalists invited to join.
The committee was established at the state government offices on September 12. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said the government is up against an “iceberg of misinformation”, especially in terms of coverage on the crisis in Rakhine State.
The government’s messaging has come under fire internationally however, with the UN human rights chief calling some of the statements “irresponsible”, with the potential of enflaming further violence.
During a committee organizing meeting, Mon State Minister of Security and Border Affairs Colonel Win Naing Oo said social media rumors have stirred public concern and even panic across the country. The government decided to establish the committee in order to deflate the rumors, he said.
The Mon State True News and Information Committee is chaired by the state’s Minister of Security and Border Affairs and includes the secretary of the Mon State government as vice-chair, the director of the Mon State government as secretary, and officials from the General Administrative Department, the Department of Special Investigation, the Police Special Branch and the State’s Department of Information and Public Relations.
Ko Kyaw Soe, an executive member of the Southern Myanmar Journalist Network, said local media professionals were invited to join the committee but opted out in order to retain independence.
“Journalists have standards and ethics. By joining one side, they would deviate from a ‘neutral’ nature. Impartiality is an important factor [in newsgathering],” he said. “We didn’t join [the committee] because we are concerned about deviating from the principle of neutrality.”
He nevertheless welcomed the committee as a way to boost government transparency.
“It’s important for the government’s information committee to release up-to-date news concerning rumors. My advice to them is that the government already has their own official websites. If they can release up-to-date information [on those sites], then we can [use them to cover the news],” said Ko Kyaw Soe.
U Myint Kyaw from the Myanmar Press Council, said independent journalists should not be involved in the government’s PR production.
“It would cause a conflict of interests,” he said. “Sometimes, the statements may be biased or may take into consideration only [one side’s] interest. It’s unnatural for journalists to be included in an information committee.”
