What's next for democracy in Myanmar?

Join us for a public debate on what the future holds for democracy in Myanmar, and what the past year's reforms may mean for the country's media.
 
After a year of democratic reforms, there is a sense of hopeful optimism in Myanmar. In just a few weeks, decades of government controlled media censorship in the country will officially be brought to an end, and new media legislation set to ensure freedom of expression and basic rights for journalists and media is currently being drafted.
 
A year ago journalists from the Myanmarese exile media Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) risked imprisonment for entering their own country. Just six months ago, the country's government released 17 video journalists from DVN, some of which were sentenced to more than 60 years in prison.
 
International Media Support (IMS), NIAS - Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, and Asian Dynamics Initiative, University of Copenhagen invite you to join the editor in chief of Democratic Voice of Burma and a high-ranking representative of the Myanmar government for a discussion on:
 
Are the democratic reforms in Myanmar genuine? What comes after the abolishment of censorship and will journalists - including those who have a critical voice - be able to work freely in the country in the future?
  
Panelists

•  U Ye Htut, Director General, Ministry of Information, Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
•  Khin Maung Win, Deputy Director, Democratic Voice of Burma
•  Jesper Højberg, Executive Director of International Media Support
•  Flemming Ytzen, editor and commentator, Politiken, and Associate Expert at NIAS

 Time: Tuesday, 19 June 2012, 10:00am - 12:00 noon

Venue: University of Copenhagen, Nørregade 10, Udvalgsværelse 3, Entrance C, 1. Floor, 1017 Copenhagen K

Sign up for the debate.
Contact Helle Wahlberg, International Media Support (IMS), hwa@i-m-s.dk, tel. 88327005 or Marie Yoshida, Asian Dynamics Initiative at marie.yoshida@nias.ku.dk.
 
Background 
Since March 2011, the government of Myanmar has carried out a number of social, economic and political reforms which have kick-started a democratic process in the country. Censorship has been loosened and persecution of the media is slowly becoming a thing of the past. New media outlets are mushrooming, voices from the opposition are heard even in state-controlled media and the government has lifted its ban on online and exile media such as The Irrawaddy, the BBC, and The Democratic Voice of Burma.