Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Myanmar guarantees freedom of expression in the press by Section 354(a) of 2008 Myanmar Constitution. However, many people including journalists are arrested and detained under the provisions of existing laws in Myanmar. The objectives of this paper are to analyze the weak points of existing laws relating to freedom of press and to make suggestion in promoting the freedom of press compared with international human rights standards. The paper uses a qualitative approach based on comparative legal analysis. Data collection was done mainly through international and domestic legal documents. The analysis shows that some of the provisions of existing laws (for e.g. Section 66(d) of the Telecommunication Law 2013, S.9 (b) of the Media Law 2014, S.3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 and S.17 (1) and S. 17(2) of the Unlawful Association Act 1908) which have restricted freedom of press should be repealed or amended and new laws or provisions in accordance with the international human rights standards should be enacted.