Burma: Press Freedom

(asked on 11th July 2018) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to discuss the obligations under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the government of Burma; and whether they intend to call for a revision of Burma’s Official Secrets Act to bring it into line with that government's obligations to respect press freedom and the right of journalists to carry out their duties freely and safely.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 25th July 2018

The UK has been a consistent, vocal advocate of democratic freedoms in Burma, including freedom of expression. The former Foreign Secretary raised the UK's concerns about freedom of expression in Burma with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to the UK in May 2017, and his specific concerns about the continued detention of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo when he met her during his visit to Burma in February 2018. The UK will continue to urge the Burmese authorities to protect its citizens' right to a free press in line with international norms.

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