Thirty-three media organisations from across the globe are appealing to the Burmese government to respect the rights of Burmese citizens, and specifically the media, during next month’s general election. Only if such rights are upheld, it is contended, can the polling be interpreted as a free and fair expression of the country’s desire.

Members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) aired their appeal in a statement issued October 25, specifically calling on Asean governments to assist in pressuring the Burmese junta to acknowledge media rights such as equal access and independent reporting.

“We are calling on the Burmese government and the governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to ensure freedom of expression, access to information, democratic values and human rights are respected during this critical moment in the electoral history of Burma,” demand the organisations from such disparate geographic locations as Bahrain, Venezuela and West Africa.

In addition to long-standing efforts by the Burmese regime to suppress critical stories appearing in both domestic and exile news sources, the missive points out, “At least three contesting political parties…were partly denied access to the state-controlled media as their campaign messages were deemed improper by the Election Commission.”

Despite abundant calls from international organisations and rights groups for Burmese authorities to make the electoral process as transparent and free as possible, Burmese officials continue to dismiss such requests, arguing that there are already sufficient persons inside Burma positioned and capable of covering the balloting.

The IFEX members, however, respond: “While we appreciate that private publications in Burma are to some extent able to cover Burma's 2010 election, the local media, both government and private outlets, continue to face content restrictions on their election coverage. The laws and regulations governing the election are devised to silence critical and opposing views.”

It is also made note that simple misquotations or perceived misportrayals of the 2008 constitution or electoral laws are subject to criminal prosecution, in but a further example of the attempt to suppress any coverage deviating from official lines.

IFEX, of which Mizzima is a member, was created in 1992 in Montreal, Canada, and today numbers more than 80 independent organisations committed to exposing violations of freedom of expression.