Message of Greetings sent by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations

3 May 2019
14th Waning of Tagu, 1381 ME

I send this Message of Greetings and good wishes to all persons from all organizations and sectors, newsmen from all types of media and all people from all UN agencies including UNESCO, for their good health and well-being.

We have celebrated the World Press Freedom Day to show to the respective peoples of the world the situation and status of the importance of press freedom in the countries of the world, to raise the awareness of the importance of press freedom among the peoples of the world, and to show respect and enjoy freedom of expression enunciated in the Windhoek Declaration and Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is with these aims that this day has been celebrated.
We have been having these celebrations ever year on 3rd May ever since 1993. This year marks the 26th anniversary.
To mark the World Press Freedom Day we have chosen the slogan “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation”.
In Myanmar, we have seen the total demise of press freedom including political rights for many decades. I hope that all of us will remember too well how much effort has been exerted and invested and how much has been sacrificed for us to have arrived at this present situation when the freedom to write, to express and to speak could be exercised. It is because of these strenuous efforts that we are firmly standing now on the path to democracy. That is why the people are enjoying their rights and freedoms including press freedom.
I wish to solemnly state at today’s ceremony that we salute and affirm our recognition and continued remembrance of all the ardent efforts that have been exerted in dignity, steadfastness, wisdom and courage for press freedom and the accuracy of press reporting during the whole period of the movement for democracy.
I also urge all of you to continue your active participation to ensure that democracy will take firm root and that our freedoms to write, express and speak shall not disappear and be lost again.
At this time, all of us can see and witness all over the world that incorrect news, fake news, rumors, hate speech and writings to incite conflicts are threatening and destroying the stability and peace of the respective international communities.
At this time, especially in countries like ours, where we are transitioning towards democracy, we are taking extra precautions to prevent conflicts, chaos and instability due to the misuse of our newly acquired freedoms.
In this type of situation, I wish to solemnly urge all media people to work for the gradual disappearance of dogmatic beliefs and biased views within Myanmar society and for the flourishing habits that promote objective and logical thinking; and furthermore to work for the emergence of peaceful and just societies where everyone has the right to participate in equality.
Only then would we be able to successfully build together the Democratic Federal Republic which we all aspire and desire in the near future.
At today’s ceremony, I wish to especially urge the respected newsmen as they solve problems related to media freedom, to take extra care to respect and adhere to the code of conduct and ethics for media people and also to protect and promote it as well. Just as all of us need to protect all media people who are writing, speaking and expressing in conformity with the code of conduct and ethics, so that they are free from danger, we should also all work together to give good guidance and direction so that they are no breaches of the code of conduct and ethics. Just as we need to protect the people and deter the dissemination of fake news that encourage the emergence of conflicts and give them wrong views, we need to promote media awareness and news and information awareness so that the people could not be easily fooled or misguided. I want all of you to participate in this endeavor.
In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that I congratulate and acknowledge all the respected newspaper personnel who have actively participated in the democratic transition process, on this day as we celebrate the press freedom day ceremony. Furthermore, I wish to solemnly urge all media personnel to join us to help and participate for the flourishing of freedom, peace, and prosperity in Myanmar and for the diminishing and disappearance of injustice, inequality and instability.
Aung San Suu Kyi
State Counsellor
Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar